Lok Sabha clears Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026

The Lok Sabha on Thursday cleared the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026, during the Budget session of Parliment. The bill is expected to prevent any future confusion about the repeal of older labour laws.

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the Bill on Wednesday through a supplementary agenda soon after Question Hour.

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He described it as a step to ensure there is no misunderstanding about how earlier laws were repealed when the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 came into force.

The Bill will now be taken up by the Rajya Sabha, and if passed, will seek the final President's assent.

Purpose of the bill

The 2020 Code replaced three major labour laws - the Trade Unions Act of 1926, the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act of 1946, and the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947 - bringing them under a single framework.

Section 104 of the Code includes provisions to ensure continuity and legal certainty after these laws were repealed.

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According to the statement of objects and reasons, while the repeal took place automatically through Section 104 of the Code, there is a possibility that questions could be raised in the future about whether the power to repeal had been delegated to the executive.

The PM Modi-led Central government said both Section 104 and a notification issued in February 2026 make it clear that the repeal happened by operation of the law itself.

The amendment, the Centre said, was introduced to remove any scope for such confusion and to avoid potential legal complications later.