Labour Codes Latest News and Updates (2025-2026)

This page logs every significant update on India's four new Labour Codes since they came into force on 21 November 2025: notifications, rules, schemes, state rules, Ministry clarifications and major events. The newest items are at the top, each with its date and a link to its source. For what the Codes mean overall, read our complete guide to the new Labour Codes.

Coming up

• 31 October 2026: the Centre's target for all states and UTs to have their Labour Code rules in place (Business Standard). Also the extended due date for the September 2026 PF return and payment.
• 8 November 2026: last date for establishments already registered under the older laws to update their particulars on the Shram Suvidha portal (LKS). See our Central Rules 2026 guide.
• 15 November 2026: PF contributions for October 2026 fall due on the usual date.

October 2026

• 21 October 2026The Ministry of Skill Development's Office Memorandum No. AP-22/4/2026-NAPS states that apprentices engaged under the Apprentices Act, 1961, with contracts registered on the portal, are not "employees" under the Social Security Code, so no PF or ESI is payable on their stipend (SGCMS).
• 13 October 2026EPFO extended the due date for the September 2026 ECR and PF payment from 15 October to 31 October 2026, because the wage-ceiling change split September into two periods (LKS). Details in our PF wage ceiling guide.
• 7 October 2026ESIC fixed funeral expenses at ₹20,000 under Section 32(1)(f) of the Social Security Code, with effect from 8 May 2026 (TeamLease RegTech).
• 1 October 2026Revised central-sphere VDA took effect under Order No. 6/1/2026-VDA of 30 September 2026. The minimum wage for unskilled construction work in Area A is now ₹840 a day (SGCMS). See our minimum wages page.

September 2026

• 24 September 2026The Labour Secretary said 10 states had published their rules, and set 31 October 2026 as the target for all states and UTs (Business Standard).
• 24 September 2026EPFO issued FAQs on the new wage ceiling: September 2026 is filed in one ECR split into two periods, up to 16 September at ₹15,000 and from 17 September at ₹25,000 (Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas).
• 17 September 2026The PF wage ceiling rose from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month, after Cabinet approval on 16 September. The government said over 51 lakh more employees come under mandatory coverage (All India Radio).
• 4 September 2026Karnataka amended its Shops and Commercial Establishments Act to exempt establishments with 10 or more workers that already hold OSH Code registration (Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas).
• 2 September 2026Assam amended its Shops and Establishments Act to align it with the Labour Codes (same source).

August 2026

• August 2026Andhra Pradesh notified its OSH Rules, 2026 by G.O.Rt. No. 146 (LKS). Sources give the date as 6 or 7 August.
• 4 August 2026A corrigendum, G.S.R. 704(E), corrected drafting errors in the Employees' Pension Scheme, 2026 (LKS).

July 2026

• 15 July 2026A corrigendum, G.S.R. 629(E), corrected the wording of the Code on Wages (Central) Rules, 2026 (Gazette of India).
• 1 July 2026Contribution rates notified under the Social Security Code: EPF 12% employer and 12% employee; employer's EPS contribution 8.33% of wages; EDLI 0.5% of wages (SCC Online, Taxmann).
• 1 July 2026EPFO told field offices to credit interest at 8.25% for 2025-26 (Khaitan & Co).
• 1 July 2026Bihar notified its rules under the four Codes (LKS).

June 2026

• 30 June 2026Rajasthan notified its OSH Rules, 2026 (King Stubb & Kasiva).
• 29 June 2026The EPF Scheme, 2026 (G.S.R. 525(E)), EDLI Scheme, 2026 (G.S.R. 526(E)) and Employees' Pension Scheme, 2026 (G.S.R. 527(E)) were notified under the Social Security Code (KPMG).
• 18 June 2026The government was reported to have ratified 8.25% interest on EPF for 2025-26, as recommended by the EPFO board on 2 March 2026 (ETV Bharat).

May 2026

• 8 May 2026Final Central Rules notified under all four Codes: G.S.R. 342(E) to 345(E). Official PDFs are on our Labour Codes PDF page, and the key rules are in our Central Rules 2026 guide.

November 2025 to March 2026

• 16 March 2026The Labour Ministry issued Additional FAQs on the Labour Codes (Ministry of Labour).
• 16 February 2026The Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Act, 2026 received assent, with effect from 21 November 2025 (Gazette of India).
• 12 February 2026Ten central trade unions held a nationwide strike against the Labour Codes (Business Standard).
• 30 December 2025Draft Central Rules published for comment, and the Ministry's first FAQs issued (Ministry of Labour).
• 21 November 2025All four Labour Codes came into force, replacing 29 central labour laws (PIB).

Related: state-wise Labour Code rules tracker, pros and cons of the Labour Codes and Labour Codes for IT employees.

Frequently asked questions

What is the latest news on the new Labour Codes?

On 21 October 2026 the Skill Development Ministry clarified that no PF or ESI is payable on stipends of apprentices registered under the Apprentices Act. EPFO has extended the September 2026 PF due date to 31 October 2026, and registered establishments must update their Shram Suvidha details by 8 November 2026.

Are the new Labour Codes in force?

Yes. All four Codes have been in force since 21 November 2025, and the Central Rules since 8 May 2026. States are notifying their own rules.

What is the new PF wage ceiling?

₹25,000 a month from 17 September 2026, up from ₹15,000.

How many states have notified Labour Code rules?

On 24 September 2026 the Labour Secretary said 10 states had published their rules. The Centre's target is for all states and UTs to have rules by 31 October 2026.

When were the new EPF, EPS and EDLI Schemes notified?

On 29 June 2026, under the Code on Social Security, 2020, as G.S.R. 525(E), 527(E) and 526(E) respectively.

Updated 30 October 2026. Each item links to its source; where official copies were not available, we cite law firms and compliance publishers. General information, not legal advice.