Government Invited Public Feedback on Four Draft Labour Codes — Why I Responded to One Only

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 Four Labour Codes, One Considered Response: Why I Chose the Code on Wages

Government of India invited public feedback on four draft labour codes. I explain why I submitted suggestions only on the Code on Wages, and summarise my concept note on wage transparency and worker confidence.


Recently, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, invited public comments and suggestions on draft rules under four labour codes. Such consultations matter. They are among the few formal spaces where individual citizens can place thoughtful inputs on record before rules are finalised.

After reading through the drafts, I chose to submit feedback on only one of the four codes. This post explains which codes were opened for consultation, why I limited my response to a single code, and the essence of what I submitted.

The Four Draft Labour Codes Open for Feedback

The consultation covered draft rules under the following labour codes:

Each of these codes addresses a distinct and complex aspect of India’s labour ecosystem — from wages and industrial relations to social security coverage and workplace safety. Together, they represent a significant reorganisation of labour regulation, and each deserves careful, specialised engagement.

Why I Chose to Respond Only to the Code on Wages

My decision to submit feedback only on the Code on Wages was deliberate.

Wages sit at a unique intersection of employment, trust, and financial dignity. They are where labour law meets everyday life — shaping not only income, but also predictability, confidence, and a sense of continuity across jobs. Unlike other aspects of labour regulation, wages follow the worker across employers, contracts, and phases of life.

My own long-standing interest lies in safe, transparent, and trustworthy financial systems, particularly where design choices affect individuals rather than institutions. From that perspective, the Code on Wages offered a narrow but meaningful space to think about how wage-related information is experienced by workers over time.

Rather than offering broad or superficial observations across all four codes, I felt it was more responsible to contribute one focused idea, grounded in restraint and lived understanding, to the area where I could add something constructive without overreach.

The Core Idea Submitted Under the Code on Wages

The submission I sent was not a demand or a recommendation for immediate implementation. It was a concept note — an exploration of whether, over time, wage transparency for workers could be strengthened without increasing employer burden or mandating digital-only systems.

At its heart were two linked ideas.

Note: In this context, WUAN refers to a proposed Wages Universal Account Number, distinct from the existing Universal Account Number (UAN) used by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation for provident fund accounts.

Executive Summary of the Submission

A Wages Universal Account Number (WUAN)

The first idea was a Wages Universal Account Number (WUAN) — a lifelong, wage-linked identifier for workers.

The intent is continuity, not control.

Such an identifier would remain constant throughout a worker’s career, regardless of changes in employers or modes of wage payment.

It would be informational only, serving as a stable reference that allows wage-related information to be viewed across employments.

It is not a payroll system, not a tax mechanism, and not an enforcement tool.

A Worker-View Consolidated Wage History

Linked to WUAN, the second idea explored was a view-only wage history for workers.

This would allow individuals to see, in one place, their periods of employment, wages received, and related components such as bonuses or indicative gratuity information. It would not replace statutory wage slips or employer-maintained records. Instead, it would provide workers with a clearer, consolidated picture of their wage journey over time.

The purpose is visibility and confidence — nothing more.

What the Submission Deliberately Does Not Attempt

Just as important as what the submission explores is what it consciously stays away from. It does not argue for digital-only wage payments, nor does it seek to introduce any new compliance or reporting obligations for employers. The idea is not about payroll processing, tax reporting, or enforcement mechanisms, and it does not dilute the flexibility that employers require to operate across diverse contexts.

If such a concept were ever to be examined further, it would need to rest on strong privacy protections, minimal data collection, and clear, consent-based access — and nothing more.

A Larger Reflection

India has, in recent years, shown that it can design large-scale systems that work best when they are voluntary, inclusive, and trust-based.

If ever explored thoughtfully, a concept like WUAN could represent India’s contribution to global thinking on employee transparency and ease of operations — not through compulsion, but through clarity and trust.

Closing Note

Public consultations work best when responses are offered with restraint, focus, and respect for complexity. This submission was made in that spirit — as a single, well-considered contribution to one draft code, placed carefully on record.

Whether or not the idea is taken forward, the consultation itself is a reminder that policy improves when citizens engage thoughtfully rather than noisily.

Further Reading

Official texts of the four labour codes are available on the Government of India’s India Code portal:
https://www.indiacode.nic.in

The Citizen Advocate Summary

Declaring April 11 as Safe ePay Day is a symbolic, citizen-led proposal to annually reinforce safe digital payment behaviour, public awareness, and shared responsibility—celebrating not just scale, but the joy of safe ePayments.

The Joy of Safe ePayments
Nayakanti Prashant – Citizen Advocate, Safe ePay Day

“Let’s make April 11 a global symbol of care — in payments, in protection, in progress.”

01  LinkedIn Profile

 

🪞 Disclaimer

The only Joy is “Joy of Safe ePayments.”
Nothing More – Nothing Less.

Author’s Note

This reflection was developed with the assistance of an AI language model, used as a thinking, structuring, and editorial companion. The ideas, interpretations, and conclusions expressed here are entirely my own.

 

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