The Kerala government has decided to form a special committee to examine issues arising from implementation of the new labour codes and to frame state-level rules, a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said on Thursday.
Committee to include trade union representation
The move follows a meeting chaired by Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan in the presence of Labour Minister Bindu Krishna. Representatives of 22 trade unions attended the discussion, and the CMO said the committee will include seven trade union nominees alongside officials from the labour and law departments.
The committee has been given a tight timeline to complete its work: it is expected to examine aspects of framing state rules under the three labour codes and submit recommendations within 10 days, according to the statement.
"Govt would take measures within the legal framework to minimise the impact of the labour codes and protect workers’ interests," the statement said.
Composition and functions
The labour department secretary will act as convener of the committee, while the additional secretary of the law department will be a member. The panel will also include seven representatives from various trade unions and officials from the labour department. The CMO said the committee will examine the rules to be framed under the labour codes and prepare draft recommendations which will then be circulated to trade unions.
Other unions not initially on the panel will be permitted to attend the committee sittings in person and to submit suggestions, the statement added. The government said trade unions would be given an opportunity to propose amendments to a draft prepared in 2021.
| Role | Nominee |
|---|---|
| Convener | Labour department secretary |
| Member | Law department additional secretary |
| Members | Seven trade union representatives + labour department officials |
State stance and next steps
Chief Minister Satheesan emphasised that any final decision on implementing the labour codes will be taken only after hearing all stakeholders and considering the legal implications. The CMO statement said the government would seek to ensure the rules framed by Kerala serve as a model for other states.
One explicit concern raised during the meeting relates to the threshold in the central labour codes that determines which establishments and workers the provisions apply to. The state decided to take this matter to the Centre and request that the threshold be lowered, the statement said.
Engagement with unions and legal safeguards
The government assured trade unions that protecting workers' rights remains a priority. The special committee's draft recommendations will be circulated to all trade unions, and unions not on the panel will be allowed to participate and submit views during sittings. The CMO statement reiterated the government's intention to act within the legal framework while attempting to reduce any adverse impact of the labour codes on workers.
- Timeline: Recommendations to be submitted within 10 days.
- Stakeholder engagement: 22 trade unions attended the initial meeting; seven union representatives to join the committee.
- Key focus: Framing state rules, assessing applicability thresholds and minimising impact on workers.
The special committee's work will determine the state's immediate approach to operationalising the central labour codes in Kerala. By formally involving trade unions and law and labour department officials, the government aims to balance compliance with the new central framework and protection of workers' interests through state-specific rules.
How the Centre responds to Kerala's request to lower applicability thresholds, and whether the committee's short-term recommendations lead to substantive modification of the draft rules, will be closely watched by unions, employers and legal experts in the state.
