Maharashtra To Align Labour Laws With New Central Labour Codes, CM Fadnavis Orders Worker-Focused Reforms

State Government Reviews Labour Law Changes, Seeks Better Protection for Workers and State Interests

The Maharashtra government has started moving ahead with plans to update several state labour laws in line with the Central government's new labour codes. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Labour Department to ensure that every proposed change protects workers' rights while also safeguarding Maharashtra's interests before the reforms are sent to the state Cabinet for approval.

The review comes as several states continue working on implementing the Centre's four labour codes, which aim to simplify labour regulations, improve compliance, and strengthen social security for workers. Maharashtra is now focusing on making sure these reforms suit the state's legal and administrative needs without affecting worker welfare.

CM Fadnavis Reviews Labour Law Reform Proposals

During a high-level review meeting held at his official residence, Varsha, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis examined the proposed amendments to key state labour laws. He instructed officials to carefully evaluate every provision before finalizing the draft.

Labour Minister Adv. Akash Fundkar attended the meeting in person, while Minister of State for Labour Adv. Ashish Jaiswal participated through video conferencing. Senior officials from the Labour Department also reviewed the proposed reforms and discussed the next steps.

The Chief Minister stressed that labour reforms should strike the right balance between economic growth, efficient administration, and the protection of workers' rights.

Focus on Protecting Workers While Adopting Central Labour Codes

Fadnavis made it clear that Maharashtra's labour law reforms should keep workers at the center of every decision. He directed the Labour Department to ensure that all proposed amendments remain consistent with the Central government's labour codes while also addressing state-specific requirements.

Officials have been asked to include any additional legal or administrative safeguards necessary to protect Maharashtra's interests before the revised proposals are submitted to the Cabinet.

The Centre's labour reforms are built around four major labour codes that consolidate dozens of existing labour laws into a simpler legal framework covering wages, industrial relations, occupational safety, and social security.

District-Wise Review of Pending Labour Cases Ordered

One of the key issues discussed during the meeting was the proposal to transfer certain labour-related cases from Labour Courts to the Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Before making any decision, the Chief Minister directed the Labour Department to prepare a district-wise report on pending labour cases across Maharashtra.

He also instructed officials to study whether shifting jurisdiction would increase the workload of Chief Judicial Magistrates. The department has been asked to compare the proposal with the provisions already included in the Central labour codes before taking a final call.

This review is expected to help ensure that any changes improve the efficiency of dispute resolution without creating additional pressure on the judicial system.

Government Plans Stronger Welfare Measures for Unorganized Workers

The meeting also focused on improving welfare schemes for workers in the unorganized sector.

Fadnavis directed officials to prevent workers from holding memberships in both the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board and the Mathadi Boards at the same time. The move is intended to improve transparency and ensure that welfare benefits reach eligible workers more effectively.

The Labour Department has also been instructed to design welfare programs for all categories of unorganized workers, including domestic workers, in line with the social security provisions introduced under the new Central labour codes.

Experts believe expanding welfare coverage for unorganized workers will be an important step toward improving social protection across Maharashtra.

Key State Labour Laws Set for Amendment

The proposed reforms include amendments to several important Maharashtra labour laws, including:

• Maharashtra Mathadi, Hamal and Other Manual Workers (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act, 1969
• Maharashtra Private Security Guards (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act, 1981

The state government also plans to update these laws to ensure consistency with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Central government's four labour codes.

These changes are expected to modernize Maharashtra's labour regulations while improving legal clarity and administrative efficiency.

Cabinet Approval Will Be the Next Step

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Labour Department to complete the review process, incorporate all necessary revisions, and submit the final proposals before the Maharashtra Cabinet.

Once approved, the amendments are expected to bring the state's labour laws closer to the national framework while continuing to protect workers' rights, strengthen welfare measures, and improve the overall labour administration system.

The reforms are also expected to support easier compliance for employers, provide greater legal clarity, and expand social security coverage for workers across both the organized and unorganized sectors, helping Maharashtra align with the evolving national labour policy framework.