Complete Guide to Employment Laws in India

A reference list of the main employment laws in India. Since 21 November 2025, the four Labour Codes govern this area; the acts listed under them are the laws the Codes replaced and still inform the detail until state rules are fully in force. See the Labour Codes overview.

The four Labour Codes

• Code on Wages, 2019
• Industrial Relations Code, 2020
• Code on Social Security, 2020
• Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

Minimum wages

• The Minimum Wages Act, 1948

Employee Provident Fund

• The Employees’ Provident Fund and Misc Provisions Act, 1952
• The Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 1952
• EDLI Scheme, 1976
• Amendments to the EPF Act, 1952

Employee State Insurance

• The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948
• ESI (Central) Regulations, 1950
• ESI (Central) Rules, 1950

Bonus

• The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965

Gratuity

• The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
• Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central (Amendment) Rules, 2018

Contract labour

• The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970