PM Modi Underscores Labour Reforms Shaping A Future-Ready Economy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted the government’s transformative labour reforms, describing them as a cornerstone in India’s journey towards a modern, future-ready economy.

The Prime Minister’s Office, in a post on X, emphasised that the world now recognises India as a trusted global partner, and the new labour reforms reflect the nation’s commitment to strengthening its position in the global value chain.

The PMO’s post referred to an article by Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who detailed how the four new Labour Codes—implemented on 21 November—replace 29 archaic laws that no longer served the needs of a rapidly evolving workforce.

Mandaviya noted that the Codes are both pro-worker and pro-growth, establishing a robust framework for universal social security, timely wages, safer workplaces, and formal recognition of new sectors such as gig and platform work.

He added that the reforms also advance the empowerment of the youth and women workforce, aligning with the broader national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.

Mandaviya called the reforms a ‘transformative milestone’, demonstrating India’s readiness to meet the demands of a dynamic global economy.

Breaking Decades of Inertia

In his article, Mandaviya reflected on India’s long struggle with weak economic growth, corruption, and a lack of commitment to job creation.

He recalled how politically motivated bandhs and gheraos once disrupted industrial activity, discouraging investment and damaging trust in the system.

Previous governments, he argued, reduced labour welfare to slogans without addressing systemic challenges.

This stagnation started to shift when PM Modi invoked ‘Shramev Jayate’ from the Red Fort, declaring the dignity of labour central to India’s development.

Mandaviya described this moment as the beginning of a new national consciousness that placed workers at the heart of policymaking.

Mandaviya further observed that India’s labour laws, largely shaped between the 1920s and 1950s, reflected a colonial mindset ill-suited to modern realities.

As the global workplace transformed with digitalisation, flexible work models, and the rise of the gig economy, Indian regulations remained outdated and restrictive.

PM Modi’s call through his panch pran—the five national resolves—to shed colonial legacies paved the way for labour reforms aligned with contemporary needs.

Mandaviya stressed that the outdated laws persisted only due to a lack of political will and vision under previous administrations.

Mandaviya concluded that under PM Modi’s leadership, India’s global stature has reached unprecedented levels.

The world now sees India not merely as a participant but as a key force shaping the global future.

To convert this momentum into sustained prosperity, he stressed the need for modern labour laws built on empowerment rather than control—an objective the Labour Codes are designed to fulfil.

Also Read: PM Modi To Honour Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji & Inaugurate ‘Panchjanya’ In Kurukshetra