Contents of the Industrial Relations Code

The Industrial Relations Code, 2020

Section 18. Enforceability of agreements

In force since 21 Nov 2025Chapter III — Trade Unions

Official text

Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, an agreement between the members of a registered Trade Union shall not be void or voidable merely by reason of the fact that any of the objects of the agreement are in restraint of trade:

Provided that nothing in this section shall enable any civil court to entertain any legal proceedings instituted for the purpose of enforcing or recovering damages for the breach of any agreement concerning the conditions on which any members of a Trade Union shall or shall not sell their goods, transact business, work, employ or be employed.

Source: The Industrial Relations Code, 2020, Act No. 35 of 2020 — Gazette of India, p. 14 of the PDF. Open our copy at p. 14 · official download · all sources

Commencement In force since 21 Nov 2025

Notification wording (1)
  • S.O. 5320(E), in force from 21 Nov 2025: “the Central Government hereby appoints the 21st day of November, 2025 as the date on which the provisions of the said Code, shall come into force”