The Industrial Relations Code, 2020

The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 represents a major shift in India’s labour law landscape by consolidating three key legislations into a unified framework. The Code governs the registration and functioning of trade unions, certification of standing orders, resolution of industrial disputes, and conditions related to strikes, lockouts, and layoffs.

Designed to simplify labour compliance while strengthening industrial peace, the Code introduces clear thresholds for standing orders, streamlines dispute resolution mechanisms, and enhances the recognition of negotiating unions and councils. It also brings greater clarity to definitions of workers, employers, and industrial establishments, reducing long-standing ambiguities under earlier laws.

By balancing flexibility for employers with safeguards for workers, the Code seeks to improve ease of doing business without compromising workers’ rights. This book provides a reliable and structured presentation of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, making it an indispensable reference for legal professionals, HR managers, compliance officers, policymakers, and students of labour law. It is especially valuable for understanding the transition from older labour statutes to the new consolidated regime.