The Centre under its new labour codes would soon provide an option for organizations to allow their employees to work for four days a week. Union labour secretary Apurva Chandra said on Monday this provision will comprise a work limit of 48 hours per week, adding that organizations would have three choices - deploying employees for four days at 12 hours per day, five days at around 10 hours per day, and six days at eight hours per day.

Addressing a press briefing, Chandra said that the Centre was is forcing employers or employees to comply with the provision adding that this was being brought in to provide flexibility and to be in sync with changing work culture in the country. Those working for four days will have to be given three days off by their employers while those working for five days will have to be given two off days before they move on to the next week, the labour secretary said. He also pointed out there will be changes in the final rules.

The Union labour ministry is in the process to finalise the rules under the four labour codes, Code on Wages, Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) and Social Security Codes. “The rule making process is already underway and likely to complete in the coming week. All stakeholders are also consulted in the framing of rules. This ministry would soon be in a position to bring into force the four Codes, viz., Code on Wages, Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) and Social Security Codes,” Chandra said during the briefing. The ministry is aiming to implement all four codes in one go.

Meanwhile, work is also being done towards rolling out an online portal by June this year for the registration of workers in the unorganized sector, including gig and platform workers and migrant workers.

Speaking about the Budget announcements regarding the Ministry, Chandra shared a portal for collecting information on gig, building, and construction workers would be started by May or June. This would help in formulating health, housing, food, and other schemes for migrant workers.

The Budget had included interest from Provident Fund contributions over Rs. 2.5 lakh being taxed. Mr. Chandra said 1.23 lakh, people, out of the 6.5 crores PF contributing accounts would be impacted by this.