Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a review meeting to assess the preparedness of the Labour and Employment Department for the implementation of the four Labour Codes enacted by the Government of India.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Labour and Employment; Commissioner Secretary, Law; DG, Codes; Labour Commissioner; and other senior officers.
During the meeting, the department made a comprehensive presentation highlighting the status of rule-making, institutional preparedness, digital integration, awareness initiatives and the roadmap for operationalising the new labour law regime across the Union Territory.
The Chief Secretary observed that the Labour Codes represent a transformative reform capable of improving labour welfare, strengthening social security, promoting industrial harmony and enhancing the ease of doing business.
He expressed confidence that their effective implementation would contribute significantly to inclusive economic growth, formalisation of employment, improved working conditions and transparent labour governance in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Appreciating the efforts made by the Labour and Employment Department in advancing the implementation process, Dulloo emphasised the need to complete the remaining procedural formalities within the stipulated timeframe.
He directed the department to expedite the final notification of the remaining rules, strengthen coordination with the Government of India for operationalisation of digital platforms, complete the constitution of statutory boards and continue intensive awareness programmes so that workers, employers and other stakeholders are fully prepared for the seamless implementation of the new labour law framework.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Labour and Employment, Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, said the Labour Codes constitute one of the most significant labour reforms undertaken in independent India, replacing 29 Central labour laws with four comprehensive codes: the Code on Wages, 2019; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Code on Social Security, 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
He said the reforms aim to create a simplified, transparent, technology-driven and worker-centric labour governance framework while simultaneously enhancing the ease of doing business.
Highlighting the progress made by the department, Ranjan informed the meeting that Jammu and Kashmir has made substantial headway in implementing the Labour Codes and is among the leading States and Union Territories in completing the statutory rule-making process.
Labour Commissioner Charandeep Singh informed the meeting that rules under all four Labour Codes have been framed. The rules under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, have already been notified in the Official Gazette following approval by the competent authorities.