The Codes, which come into effect on November 21, 2025, have been criticised for undermining the hard-won rights of journalists by subsuming two landmark legislations – the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 and the Working Journalists (Fixation of Rates of Wages) Act, 1958. These Acts, the result of decades of struggle by journalists and media unions, have long been viewed as vital protections that shield journalism’s independence from undue influence by employers, advertisers, and political forces.
By incorporating these laws into the broader Labour Codes, the government has effectively weakened the institutional framework that safeguarded press autonomy, critics argue. “This move is nothing short of an assault on the freedom of the press. The Working Journalists Act was not merely a labour law; it was a constitutional guarantee of media independence,” said Geetartha Pathak, the President of IJU and a former Member of the Press Council of India. He further added that this reform “directly undermines the democratic role of the press.”
Vinod Kohli, IJU’s Secretary General and a former member of the Press Council of India, echoed these sentiments, saying the Labour Codes were implemented without adequate consultation with key media stakeholders. He warned that this lack of dialogue would embolden employers to dilute working conditions, suppress critical voices, and weaken institutional journalism.
The IJU also highlighted several provisions in the new Labour Codes that are expected to disproportionately impact journalists and precarious media workers, including fixed-term employment, retrenchment clauses, and stricter regulations on the right to strike. These provisions, critics say, will further exacerbate job insecurity for media professionals, many of whom already work under precarious conditions.
Moreover, the Union expressed concern over the government’s dismissive approach to widespread opposition from central trade unions, journalists’ bodies, and labour experts. The absence of consultations at the Indian Labour Conference (ILC) since 2015, despite repeated calls to scrap or amend the Codes, is seen as an alarming erosion of democratic consultation, the IJU noted.
In a show of solidarity with central trade unions, the IJU is calling for the immediate repeal of the Labour Codes and a restoration of the Working Journalists Acts. Furthermore, the IJU is demanding the expansion of legal protections to include workers in electronic and digital media, who have long been excluded from such safeguards. They are also calling for the immediate reconvening of the ILC to allow for democratic deliberation on these significant changes to India’s labour landscape.
In response to these concerns, the government has defended the reforms, which are part of a broader push to modernise India’s labour laws. The new framework, which includes the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social Security (2020), and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020), aims to replace 29 outdated and fragmented labour laws, some of which date back to the colonial era.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has argued that the Codes will simplify compliance, extend social security benefits to more workers, and modernise workplace conditions, including provisions for women workers and gig economy employees. The new laws will also introduce a national floor wage, expected to standardise minimum wages across the country, and extend statutory protections, such as timely wage payments and the right to appointment letters, to all workers, including those in the unorganised and gig sectors.
The reforms also introduce significant shifts in how factories and industries operate, including provisions that allow women to work night shifts, grant employers greater flexibility to extend working hours, and raise the threshold for prior approval of layoffs from 100 to 300 workers. Additionally, the new laws provide fixed-term workers with benefits on par with permanent employees, including gratuity after one year of service. They will improve protections for contract and migrant workers.
However, critics argue that these reforms favour business interests at the expense of worker rights. Trade unions have raised concerns about the potential dilution of job security and collective bargaining power under the new Industrial Relations Code. Amarjeet Kaur, from the All India Trade Union Congress, described the Labour Codes as an assault on workers’ rights, particularly in relation to fixed-term employment and other protections that were available under earlier laws.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly backed the reform, describing it as “one of the most comprehensive labour-oriented reforms since Independence.” He said that the new Codes would empower workers, simplify compliance, and ease business processes, making India a more attractive destination for investment.
Despite these claims, many analysts suggest that the reforms’ immediate effects could be challenging for small and informal firms, potentially straining their operations. However, some economists argue that the long-term benefits, such as improved minimum wages and expanded social security, could strengthen household incomes and improve working conditions over time.
The government’s announcement of these reforms comes after years of delay: Parliament approved the changes in 2020, but political resistance and pushback from unions and several states have delayed their implementation. Officials maintain that the Labour Codes will ultimately lead to a more formalised, efficient, and globally competitive workforce, particularly as the gig economy continues to grow. The government estimates that by 2030, India’s gig economy could employ over 23.5 million workers, up from about 10 million in 2024.
As the Labour Codes are set to come into effect next month, the debate over their impact on journalists and workers across various sectors is expected to intensify. The Indian Journalists Union has pledged to remain vigilant in its fight to protect the rights of journalists, media workers, and the freedom of the press.
The government’s stance remains that these reforms are necessary for India’s economic future. For better protection of its workforce, but with strong opposition from trade unions and media bodies, the implementation of these Labour Codes is likely to remain a contentious issue in the coming months.