Why the change matters
India’s mining sector supplies critical raw materials and provides large-scale employment. The Mines Act, 1952 and related rules were the earlier foundation, but the sector required updated, uniform standards to address modern occupational hazards, fragmented benefits and inconsistent enforcement. The consolidated Codes create a single statutory framework that applies uniformly to underground and surface mines.
Better working hours and fair pay
The Codes harmonise working hours at eight hours per day (maximum 48 hours a week) for underground and surface workers, with flexibility for five- or six-day weeks. Spread over provisions allow up to 10½ hours per day with mandated rest intervals. Importantly, overtime will be paid at double the ordinary rate a clear step toward fairer compensation and reduced fatigue-related risks.
Stronger health and safety measures
Mining workplaces now benefit from more rigorous health checks and safety protocols. Workers are entitled to free annual medical examinations and mandatory pre-employment, periodic and post-exposure check-ups. The Codes notify 29 occupational diseases for treatment and compensation, and require improved dust and gas controls, protective equipment and rescue stations with trained teams.
Improved welfare facilities and leave
Welfare requirements canteens, rest shelters, ambulance rooms and crèches now apply to smaller establishments (100+ workers, including contract labour). Paid leave eligibility improves with the qualifying period reduced to 180 working days a year. These changes strengthen worker comfort and ensure more employees qualify for statutory leave.
Expanded social security and portability
Social security coverage expands with broader Provident Fund and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) application and Aadhaar-linked portability of benefits. Mandatory appointment letters, gratuity rules and a social security fund for unorganised workers raise transparency and long-term protection. The family definition has been widened to include dependent grandparents, extending benefits to a larger set of dependents.
Women, youth and inclusive safeguards
The Codes remove blanket prohibitions on women working underground, allowing their employment with safety safeguards and consent. Maternity benefits (26 weeks) and child-labour prohibitions (under 18) strengthen protections for women and young workers, while expanding inclusive employment opportunities.
Streamlined compliance and digital inspections
To improve ease of doing business, the Codes introduce unified registration, a single annual return, common licences and digital filing. Inspectors are re-designated as Inspector-cum-Facilitators with prior intimation for inspections via the Shram Suvidha portal. Many minor offences are decriminalised and can be compounded, reducing litigation and encouraging compliance.
Training and worker participation
Mandatory safety training and periodic drills, along with safety committees for establishments of 100+ workers, aim to boost on-site competency and include worker representatives in safety governance. Third-party audits and certification options further strengthen compliance and operational safety.
What to expect
Collectively, the Labour Codes create a modern statutory environment for India’s mines: safer workplaces, improved health outcomes, expanded social security and a simplified regulatory interface for employers. These reforms are expected to enhance worker dignity and productivity while supporting the mining sector’s sustained role in India’s economic growth.
