Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026 Introduced

Government Clarifies Statutory Repeal of Earlier Labour Laws

The Union government has introduced the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha to clarify the legal interpretation of repeals carried out under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 . The amendment primarily seeks to reinforce that the repeal of earlier labour laws is statutory rather than executive in character.

Objective of the Amendment

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the Bill to remove any interpretational ambiguity surrounding Section 104 of the Code. While Section 104 already provides for repeal and savings, concerns had emerged that the repeal might be misread as an executive action instead of an automatic legislative consequence. The amendment explicitly affirms the statutory basis of repeal.

Legislative Background

The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 consolidated three foundational labour statutes:

• Trade Unions Act, 1926

• Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946

• Industrial Disputes Act, 1947

These laws governed trade union registration, conditions of employment, and industrial dispute resolution. Their repeal occurred through Section 104 when the Code came into force.

Need for Legal Clarification

Although a notification reaffirmed the statutory nature of repeal, the government cited the possibility of future legal challenges. The amendment aims to prevent disputes alleging delegation of repeal authority to the executive. By codifying the legislative intent, the Bill safeguards continuity and legal certainty.

Broader Significance

The change is procedural but important for maintaining coherence in India’s restructured labour law architecture. Legal clarity reduces litigation risks and strengthens regulatory predictability for employers, workers, and adjudicatory bodies.

Exam-Focused Points

• Industrial Relations Code, 2020 is one of four labour codes .

• Replaced three major labour laws .

• Section 104: Repeal and savings provisions.

• Amendment clarifies statutory repeal nature.

• Labour falls under the Concurrent List .