The Government of Madhya Pradesh on April 30, 2026, issued the Madhya Pradesh Code on Empowering Work Spaces, 2026.
The following has been stated:
The code establishes a comprehensive legal framework to regulate employment conditions, worker rights, and employer obligations across all establishments in Madhya Pradesh. It aligns closely with central labour laws such as the Code on Wages, 2019, Industrial Relations Code, 2020, Code on Social Security, 2020, and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, adopting their definitions and standards while prioritizing provisions more beneficial to workers.
The Code mandates a single, lifetime registration system for establishments through a digital portal, promoting transparency, ease of compliance, and technology-driven governance. It emphasizes worker dignity by prohibiting forced or coercive employment practices, including withholding documents or imposing restrictive conditions.
Key provisions cover wages (aligned with statutory minimum wages), flexible working hours with overtime safeguards, leave entitlements, and permission for women to work night shifts with safety measures. It also allows fixed-term employment with equal treatment and pro-rata benefits. The law introduces mechanisms for digital administration, audits, and public transparency while empowering a Commissioner of Labour and supporting officers to enforce compliance. Overall, it aims to modernize labour regulation, enhance worker protection, and simplify business compliance in the state.
