Written by Anandi Shukla,
Himachal Pradesh National Law University
April 2026
Work is not just a way to earn money; it is a way to survive, feel valued, and live sustainably. It includes office employees, daily wage earners, and labourers whose livelihood depends on what they earn in a day. As in India, most people engage in agricultural activities.
This article explores labour law reforms from a public perspective, focusing on how policy changes affect ordinary workers and the future of employment in India. The main question that arises is: who protects workers when the rules of work change? Understanding why work matters for the livelihood of ordinary people. As India has evolved, there has been much development, leading to many changes across all fields. This article includes recent developments in the field of rural employment, such as the evolution of the employment scheme, which was introduced by the government to guarantee employment for 100 days and went through certain changes and developments. It also includes existing labour laws and the protection of child labour. Amendments to the new regulatory framework are also proposed, including the need for legal clarity and awareness for equitable recognition.
INTRODUCTION:
Understanding the meaning of livelihood is crucial, as it encompasses the assets required for living, including food, shelter, and money. For an individual, a livelihood is the ability to obtain the necessities of life, such as food, water, shelter, and clothing. Therefore, all activities involved in finding food, searching for water, shelter, clothing, and all necessities required for human survival at the individual and household levels are referred to as livelihoods.
Employment is the way to earn and live a healthy life, for which the protection of employees is an important parameter to understand; it not only includes employment opportunities but also prevents the worker from abuse, unfair wages, etc. Labour laws are a shield for workers to be used for their protection, women’s empowerment, and so on.
WORK AS SURVIVAL, IDENTITY, AND DIGNITY
Work is directly related to people’s social status. In general terms, it can be stated that those who are employed are considered valued persons, whereas those who are willing but unable to work are considered useless. Work not only gives respect but also is a source of income and sustainable livelihood, which in today’s era is considered most important, as many people are starving due to hunger because they do not have the money to buy food or jobs to do. It provides identity to individuals in society and the dignity to live peacefully. Unemployment or exploitation of labour may lead to crime as “an empty mind is the devil’s workshop”.
WHY LABOUR LAWS EXIST IN THE FIRST PLACE
Labour law in India is divided into four codes: wage, social security, industrial relations, and OSH; previously, there were no such codes for labour laws. These reforms were made to modify, simplify, and make it easy for people to understand and implement. Labour laws existed before the independence as form that time only the labour were considered as the main fuel to the development of the country.
For these reforms, the bill needs to be passed by the parliament, and the central government has made headway to get changes in the living standards of workers in fundamental manners. These reforms will enhance the ease of doing business in the country. Employment creation and output will also be enhanced.
Individual safety is the major concern to be considered, as the state has the power to reform labour laws and implement changes as needed. Recently, the labour laws included gig workers, as they were exploited by being paid unfair wages.
Labour laws were established as labour was a factor for the growth and development of a country. It is most important to consider them as an important source, as during the colonial era, the exploitation of labourers and workers was at a high rate, workers were not paid much, women and men workers were not paid equally, there was no fixed time of work, and the conditions of the workplace were in a bad state, which drained out the wealth too.
After independence, certain changes were made for the upliftment of workers, including labour laws such as the Minimum Wage Act, Plantation Wage Act, and Payment of Gratuity Act. These were certain labour law reforms that led to further changes in the form of the Code of Wages and Code of Social Security.
FROM OLD PROTECTIONS TO NEW PROMISES: UNDERSTANDING LABOUR REFORMS
Many labour laws were from the time of the British Raj, which needed to be improved and made according to the recent needs of the workers.
The brainstorming effect of the labour code was fast-tracked when the government introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) with the slogan of “sabka sath sabka vikas sabka vishwas” which assured that the introduction of new reforms would help all sectors, from employees to daily wage earners. Old laws, such as labour laws, have now been reformed to protect labour in the form of schemes and policies by the government. Workers are considered nation builders and the power engines of a country.
The window selling effect was also not in use, as it prevented women’s empowerment, as it meant that women were not allowed to reach the top hierarchy of the organization. Following this, a major drawback for the development was identified, which led to reforms such as Namo Drone Didi: a central sector scheme, which aims to empower women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by equipping them with drone technology to provide agricultural services.
Labour laws are helpful for both the organized and unorganized sectors. The employee provident fund scheme, pension schemes, and coverage of all types of medical benefits to the workers. For gig workers the main question for them is whether they have right? Or not. The reforms are made to include gig worker and their rights as they are often struck between the contractual obligations.
GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND THE HUMAN COST
Development is the process of growth or change from one condition to another. Development in the country always comes at a human cost, and the labourers are the ones who suffer the most. Regarding infrastructure development, the labourers are the ones who put all their efforts into making the work go easily, for which the government should work on it. Understanding the growth of human costs and their involvement is the major factor that is considered the most.
Sacrificing one’s needs and then developing the nation is not the goal that the country is willing to achieve; therefore, the need for labour reforms is the most, and awareness should also be made as if you will sleep on your laws, the law will not help you.
WHERE DO WORKERS TURN WHEN RIGHTS ARE WEAKENED?
Labour protection or labour laws become weaken the question for ordinary worker may be simple but serious, where do worker turn when rights are weakened? For many workers the answer is not obvious. Legal remedy may exist paper but access to justice is often distant, slow and intimidating.
The reforms are made for a comprehensive legal framework for workers for social security. Workers have access to legal institutions including courts, legal departments, trade unions etc. courts remain as important avenue for justice nut they are time consuming and expensive. For a daily wage earner fighting legal battle are expensive an often not practical. There are various NGO, legal aid clinics who work to fill the gap of awareness so that the workers are able to know their rights and protect them as well.
Fear plays major role. If worker do not know where to turn or are afraid of raising their voice, for reforms truly effective it needs to be made aware to the people, redressal must be strengthen, simplified, trusted so that the workers do not feel alone when their rights are infringed. Workers are often scared, forced not to complain and most of the time they do not have the proper documents to present. As a result many choose to remain silent over confrontation, even when they know something is unfair. In such situation injustice becomes normalized.
CONCLUSION
Governmental reform should not only include the economic perspective but also a people-centric approach. GDP includes not only economic growth but also the wage rate. The schemes and labour laws established by the government protect the labourers from exploitation and give them the right to raise their voices. Existing labour laws in India should focus not only on framing policies and schemes but also on the implementation of the laws. A proper survey should be conducted to monitor the functioning of laws and regulations. Decentralization of power can be a major factor, and surveys can be a major solution.
Continuous development and reforms helped provide social security to the elderly and people in unorganized sectors. The government also focused on whether the labour reforms are really helping the labourers and what are the reforms that are not allowing the workers to make progress.
