The Government of Rajasthan on January 20, 2026, issued the Draft Rajasthan Industrial Relation Rules, 2026.
The Draft Rajasthan Industrial Relations Rules, 2026 apply to the whole of Rajasthan in respect of industrial establishments where the State Government is the appropriate government. They will come into force on final publication in the Official Gazette and are framed under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 to regulate settlements, trade unions, standing orders, dispute resolution, and workforce restructuring.
Settlements between employers and workers, whether arrived at during conciliation or otherwise, are to be in the prescribed Form-I and signed by authorized employer representatives and recognized trade union office bearers or duly authorized worker representatives. In individual worker disputes, the settlement must be signed by the employer and the worker concerned. Settlements outside conciliation must be jointly sent to the Labour Commissioner and the Conciliation Officer, and all settlements are to be entered in a register maintained by the Conciliation Officer.
A Works Committee must be constituted wherever directed under the Code. It may have up to twenty members, with worker representatives not fewer than employer representatives and with compulsory representation of women workers in proportion to their strength. Detailed rules govern nomination or election (including electronic mode), eligibility, tenure of three years, office-bearers, and meetings at least once every three months. The State Government may dissolve a non-functioning or improperly constituted Committee.
A Grievance Redressal Committee with equal employer and worker representation, and a maximum of ten members, is also mandated, with compulsory women representation and a three-year tenure. Workers may raise grievances within one year of the cause of action. If a grievance is unresolved or decided adversely, the worker may approach the Conciliation Officer within sixty days.
For Trade Unions, the Rules prescribe registration in Form-II with affidavit and fee, maintenance of a statutory register, and issuance of registration certificates. Minimum annual subscription rates are fixed at ₹20 for rural workers, ₹30 for unorganised sector workers, and ₹50 in other cases. General funds may be used only for specified purposes, and a separate political fund is allowed, but contributions to it are entirely voluntary and cannot be a condition of membership. Annual returns must be filed by 31 July, audits are mandatory with standards linked to union size, and persons who handled union funds are disqualified from acting as auditors.
The Registrar may cancel or withdraw a union’s registration subject to majority approval of members. Appeals against the Registrar’s orders must be filed within sixty days. Trade unions must also intimate any change in registration particulars or rules to the Registrar.
The Rules provide a detailed mechanism for recognition of a negotiating union or negotiating council. A sole negotiating union must be recognized if a single union has at least 30% membership. Membership verification is conducted by a Verification Officer through secret ballot, including electronic voting, with costs borne by the employer. Recognition is normally valid for three years and extendable up to five years by agreement. Recognized unions or councils are entitled to facilities such as notice boards, meeting venues, entry into the establishment for official purposes, subscription deduction with worker consent, and office accommodation in establishments employing 300 or more workers.
Employers may adopt the Central Model Standing Orders by notifying the Certifying Officer, and if no objection is raised within thirty days, adoption is deemed valid. The Rules lay down procedures for certification, appeals, authentication, maintenance of a standing orders register, and joint standing orders for similar establishments. Employers must give notice in the prescribed form before effecting any change in service conditions listed in the Third Schedule of the Code, and such notice must be displayed and served on registered trade unions.
Voluntary arbitration of disputes is permitted through a written arbitration agreement in the prescribed form with the consent of the arbitrator. The State Government must notify cases where arbitration affects non-parties. The Rules also specify the qualifications, pay and service conditions of Judicial and Administrative Members of the Industrial Tribunal and prescribe a time-bound conciliation and adjudication procedure, including filing of claims, recording of evidence, limited adjournments, ex-parte proceedings, and communication of awards.
Finally, the Rules regulate strikes and lock-outs through mandatory notice procedures and prescribe forms and notice requirements for lay-off, retrenchment, and closure. Employers must notify authorities before retrenchment or closure, offer re-employment preference to retrenched workers within one year, and seek prior government permission for intended lay-off or retrenchment in specified establishments. Overall, the Draft Rules create a structured and technology-enabled framework for collective bargaining, grievance handling, dispute resolution, and workforce management in Rajasthan.
The said draft rules will be taken into consideration after the expiry of a period of 45 days from the date on which the copies of the Official Gazette in which this draft of rules is published are made available to the public.
Any objection and suggestion, if any, may be addressed to the Labour Commissioner, Labour Department, Government of Rajasthan, (email;- [email protected]), Shram Bhawan, Hasanpura, Jaipur - 302006. The Objections and suggestions, which may be received from any person with respect to the said draft rules before expiry of the period specified above, will be considered by the State Government.
[Notification No. S.O.155]
