The Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026 introduced in Lok Sabha to clarify the repeal of three labour laws under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020

The Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (“Bill”) has been introduced in the Lok Sabha, seeking to clarify and amend provisions relating to the repeal of three labour laws under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (“Code”).

The Bill seeks to amend Section 104 of the Code. Specifically, it substitutes sub-section (1) to explicitly state that the following enactments stand repealed:

• The Trade Unions Act, 1926 (16 of 1926).
• Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 (20 of 1946).
• Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947).

These enactments are related to trade unions, industrial employment and industrial disputes, and contains savings provisions under section 104 thereof to ensure continuity and legal certainty.

Although the Code repealed the three existing Acts and expressly provided for their repeal under Section 104, concerns were raised about potential legal misinterpretation. In particular, it was suggested that the repeal might be viewed as having been effected through the executive, rather than by operation of the statute itself. To address this and avoid any future complications, it has been clarified that the repeal took effect by virtue of Section 104 of the Code, read with the Notification dated 2nd February 2026 (refer to the trail-mail).

Source: E-Gazette