Contemporary Reforms of Labour Market and Industrial Relations System in India: Ease of Doing Business versus Labour Rights

The NDA government has taken a big step in the reform of labor laws by rationalizing numerous labor laws into four codes on wages, industrial relations, social security, and safety and working conditions. This volume provides insights into the contemporary labor law reform debates in a comprehensive manner, with articles from stakeholders in the industrial relations system, including trade unions and employers, business consultants, and [retired] government officials. It seeks to fill in a critical void in the literature on the ongoing debate on labor law and governance reforms in India and their possible impacts on the ease of doing business and workers' rights.

Format: Hardback
Length: 380 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2023
Publisher: Academic Foundation

The post-economic reform period has seen a series of labor law and governance reforms initiated by the central and state governments in response to the demands of employers. These reforms have faced opposition from trade unions. Since the BJP-led NDA government assumed power in May 2014, the reform of labor laws has gained momentum. Recently, state governments like Rajasthan have undertaken significant reforms to their labor laws. The NDA government has taken a significant step forward by consolidating numerous labor laws into four codes: wages, industrial relations, social security, and safety and working conditions. These Codes include significant reforms that provide flexibility for employers while offering some benefits to workers. The proposed reforms have far-reaching implications, necessitating a comprehensive introduction and analysis of these measures in a single volume.

This volume, in honor of Prof. L.K. Deshpande, offers valuable insights into the contemporary labor law reform debates in a comprehensive manner. It includes articles primarily from stakeholders in the industrial relations system, including trade union representatives, employers, business consultants, and retired government officials, in addition to a few academics. These contributors bring diverse perspectives, drawn from their extensive on-field experience, on the changes in and proposed reforms to labor laws and policies. Thus, this volume goes beyond an academic read and aims to fill a critical void in the literature on the ongoing debate on labor law and governance reforms in India. It is hoped that this volume will make a significant contribution to the field.

Weight: 825g
Dimension: 235 x 159 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789332704527