The new Labour Codes implemented by the government on the 21st of last month are poised to offer stability to workers’ livelihoods across India. Our correspondent brings a report on how the new reforms are providing a direct benefit to the workers engaged in hazardous industries across the country.  

With the latest reforms under the New Labour Codes, the government has strengthened safety, health and welfare protections for workers engaged in hazardous industries across the country. Recognising that sectors such as mining, chemicals, petroleum, metallurgy and heavy engineering involve high-risk environments, the updated framework introduces mandatory risk assessment and emergency response systems to ensure safer worksites. Employers are now required to provide protective equipment and improved sanitation, washing and rest facilities, along with first-aid and ambulance rooms, creating better conditions for workers facing physical dangers at work.

Under the new reforms, health protection has been significantly enhanced. Pre-employment, periodic and post-exposure medical examinations are compulsory, and workers are entitled to free annual health check-ups, supporting a healthier workforce. These codes also bar pregnant women and adolescents from hazardous processes, reinforcing safer labour practices and reducing vulnerability among the most sensitive groups. Together, these reforms aim to bring dignity, stronger protections and a future-ready safety culture to India’s hazardous sector workforce, enhancing not only compliance but the overall well-being of those who contribute to some of the nation’s most vital industries.