Lok Sabha passes Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026

The Lok Sabha on Thursday (February 12, 2026) passed a Bill to help avoid any “future unwarranted complication” over the continuity of certain laws replaced by the Industrial Relations Code of 2020.

The Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026, contains savings provisions to ensure continuity and legal certainty.

The Bill would help avoid any “future unwarranted complication” over the continuity of certain laws replaced by the Industrial Relations Code of 2020.

The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 replaces the Trade Unions Act, 1926, the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 and the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, relating to trade unions, industrial employment and industrial disputes, according to statement of objects and reasons of the proposed law.

It contains savings provisions under Section 104 to ensure continuity and legal certainty. “Though the repeal has occurred by operation of Section 104 of the Code itself, there is a possibility of future confusion being created on a misconceived ground that the Act delegates the power to repeal the said enactments to the executive,” it explained.

The provisions of Section 104 and a February 2026 notification are clear that the repeal has occurred by the operation of Section 104 of the Code itself. “It is considered desirable to introduce the proposed amendment to avoid any future unwarranted complication,” it said.

The four Labour Codes implemented nearly three months ago ensures guarantee of minimum wage. These Codes also ensure compulsory issuance of appointment letters as well as uniform wages for the same work irrespective of gender, Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said replying to the discussion before the passage of the Bill.

Dominating labourers: Congress

Participating in the discussion earlier, the Congress said that instead of dialogue, the government “has chosen to dominate labourers”.

Congress MP K. Suresh said the strike call given by workers on Thursday was a “warning signal” and reflected the government’s policy failure in dealing with the labour force.

“The UPA government was a pro-labour government unlike the current regime. We introduced MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), upheld social justice, introduced Food Security Act and helped labourers across sectors,” he said.