Opening doors to round-the-clock economy

Section 43 of the OSH Code permits women to work in any sector, including night shifts between 7 pm and 6 am, and even in mines, provided they consent and adequate safety measures are ensured. The economic logic is clear. Enabling women to participate in growth sectors that operate round the clock creates a win-win for inclusion and competitiveness. As best practices emerge and are shared across states, we can expect wider adoption and refinement of these enabling provisions.

Institutionalising women’s voices: A seat at the table

The Code on Wages—among the most thoughtful reforms—mandates that one-third of all Central and State Advisory Board members be women. These boards are empowered to shape wage policy, expand women’s employment, and advise on flexible work arrangements. This institutional design is essential for building policies that reflect the realities of diverse workers, and making inclusion is made baseline, rather than an afterthought.

As more states activate these boards, gender-responsive policy making will move from the margins to the mainstream. The new labour codes offer a foundational opportunity, and while the Centre has laid the groundwork, real transformation will happen at the state level, and our ability to scale. States that swiftly harmonise rules, integrate social security systems, activate advisory boards, and track gender-disaggregated outcomes will lead on employment metrics.

These codes are not silver bullets, but they are powerful levers to address structural bottlenecks. Implemented right, they can expand India’s talent pipeline and unlock our demographic dividend exponentially. The labour codes must not be seen as bureaucratic reform, but as the scaffolding for an inclusive economy. With the rollout underway, India must act decisively to build a system that treats women not as beneficiaries, but as co-architects of Viksit Bharat.

Arti Ahuja
Former Secretary, Labour and Employment, Govt of India
Karthick M P
Assistant Vice President, Strategy and Research, Udaiti Foundation