Placeholder canvas

Changes under new labour codes in India: 4-day work week, decreased in-hand salary

The government has released a set of four new labour codes, which are all set to have a significant impact on what a team member’s salary and work week look like.

There has been no official announcement yet on when the new codes will be implemented. However, reports say July 1 is the set date in all probability. Twenty-three states and Union Territories (UTs) have already published the draft rules under the Code on Wages.

When the codes come into effect, employees may see an increase in work hours, changes in PF contributions, a four-day work week and a decrease in the take-home salary.

4-day work week

Under the new codes, an employer may allow their employees to work for four days instead of five in a week. But there is a catch. A team member can do a 4-day work week, but it will significantly increase their work hours to 12 hours per day.

Work hours

The number of work hours will not be reduced even if there is a 4-day work week. The new wage code mandates a 48-hour work week. So, naturally, the number of work hours daily will see a steep increase. Employees will have to increase their current eight or nine-hour work day to a 12-hour shift if they want to opt for the 4-day week. This will apply to every industry but may change according to state laws.

PF contribution and Gratuity

The new codes increase a team member’s Provident Fund contribution. A team member’s basic salary will now be at least 50 per cent of their gross monthly salary, leading to an increase in PF contribution made by employees and employers. The retirement corpus and gratuity amount will also increase.

In-hand salary

With an increase in PF contribution, a team member’s take-home salary will also hit.

Annual leaves

There have been no changes to the number of leaves, but employees will now earn leave for every 20 days of work instead of 45. Also, a team member will be eligible to apply for leave 180 days after joining a company, reduced from 240, after the new codes are implemented.

There are 29 consolidated central labour laws under four codes – wages, occupational health, social security, and industrial relations. The Parliament approved the Code of Wages in August 2019, and the rest of the codes were passed in September 2020 only after all the states were notified of the new rules. The codes can be implemented as labour is under the Concurrent List of the Constitution.

Share your love
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp

Newsletter

Follow Us

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

error: Unauthorized Content Copy Is Not Allowed