Taxmann’s Labour Laws

Description

Labour Laws is a comprehensive and meticulously curated compendium of India’s central labour legislation. This Edition is uniquely positioned in the post–Labour Codes era, when major statutes such as the Factories Act, Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Bonus Act, Trade Unions Act and others stand repealed with effect from 21st November 2025. The book preserves the complete statutory text of all important labour enactments—whether in force or repealed—because they remain essential for transitional compliance, legacy disputes, academic study, and policy interpretation.

The volume is structured into two key divisions:

Division One – Guide to Labour Laws, offering a grounding in constitutional principles, historical evolution, categories of labour legislation, and the context for the transition to the four Labour Codes
Division Two – Labour Laws, containing full, updated texts of dozens of labour enactments, each accompanied by a clear arrangement of sections, repeal-status notes, and schedules or forms as applicable
This book is designed for the following audience:

Labour & Employment Lawyers, industrial relations practitioners, and dispute-resolution professionals
HR Managers, IR Officers, Factory Managers, and Compliance Teams in manufacturing, services, gig-economy, and corporate sectors
Government Officers, Labour Commissioners, Inspectors, and Enforcement Authorities
Trade Unions, Worker Representatives & Employee Associations
Academicians, Researchers & Students of labour law, industrial relations, social security, and human resource studies
Companies, Establishments & Startups requiring clarity on applicability, compliance, and statutory obligations
The Present Publication is the 2026 Edition and amended up to 1st December 2025. This book is edited by Taxmann’s Editorial Board, with the following noteworthy features:

[Full Spectrum of Central Labour Enactments] The book covers all major legislations, including the Apprentices Act, Factories Act, Industrial Disputes Act, Child & Adolescent Labour Act, Maternity Benefit Act, Payment of Wages Act, Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Bonus Act, Trade Unions Act, and the PoSH Act
[Clear Identification of Repealed vs. Continuing Laws] Each Act carries a repeal-status note showing which Labour Code now governs the subject area:
OSHWC Code replaces the Factories Act
Code on Wages replaces Minimum Wages, Payment of Wages, and Payment of Bonus
Industrial Relations Code replaces Industrial Disputes Act and Trade Unions Act
[Detailed Internal Structuring of Each Act] Acts are presented chapter-wise with an ‘Arrangement of Sections’
[Practical Compliance Tools] The book reproduces statutory forms and schedules, such as:
Annual Return (Form I) under the Labour Laws Act 1988; This includes fields for mandays, retrenchments, terminations, wages, accident reporting, and establishment details. These forms make the book actionable for compliance teams.
[Conceptual Guide] The Guide explains:
Constitutional background of labour regulation
Historical context and evolution
Categories of labour legislation
The shift towards consolidation under the Labour Codes
The coverage of the book is as follows:

Division One – Guide to Labour Laws
A foundational exploration covering:
Legislative competence under the Constitution
Historical development of labour jurisprudence
Structure of major labour statutes
Overview of wages, safety, social security, employment standards, and industrial relations
Policy rationale behind codification
Division Two – Labour Laws
A fully updated statutory library, including:
Apprentices Act 1961 with detailed provisions on apprentice qualifications, contracts, training, safety and welfare, hours of work, and obligations of employers and apprentices
Child & Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986
Factories Act 1948 (retained for reference; repealed by OSHWC Code w.e.f. 21-11-2025)
Industrial Disputes Act 1947 (essential for pre-Code litigation and legacy matters)
Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act 1946
Maternity Benefit Act 1961
Minimum Wages Act 1948 (repealed by Code on Wages)
Payment of Bonus Act 1965
Payment of Wages Act 1936
Payment of Gratuity Act 1972
Sales Promotion Employees Act 1976
Trade Unions Act 1926 (repealed by IR Code)
PoSH Act 2013, which remains fully in force
Each enactment is supported by its full text, schedules, and statutory arrangements
The book follows a clean, intuitive, and professionally arranged format:

Conceptual Understanding – Division One sets the constitutional and legislative foundation
Statutory Reference – Division Two presents all Acts alphabetically with:
Arrangement of sections
Repeal notes
Schedules and statutory forms
Updated amendments
Ease of Navigation – The structure allows:
Quick lookups
Cross-comparisons between repealed and current regimes
Efficient use by HR, lawyers, auditors, and students