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Industrial Relations Code
Chapter IV
s. 39

Industrial Relations Code

Chapter I — Preliminary

s. 1Short title, extent and commencement
s. 2Definitions

Chapter II — Bi-partite Forums

s. 3Works Committee
s. 4Grievance Redressal Committee

Chapter III — Trade Unions

s. 5Registrar of Trade Unions
s. 6Criteria for registration
s. 7Provisions to be contained in constitution or rules of Trade Union
s. 8Application for registration, alteration of name and procedure thereof
s. 9Registration of Trade Union and cancellation thereof
s. 10Appeal against non-registration or cancellation of registration
s. 11Communication to Trade Union and change in its registration particulars
s. 12Incorporation of a registered Trade Union
s. 13Certain Acts not to apply to registered Trade Unions
s. 14Recognition of negotiating union or negotiating council
s. 15Objects of general fund, composition of separate fund and membership fee of Trade Union
s. 16Immunity from civil suit in certain cases
s. 17Criminal conspiracy in furtherance of objects of Trade Union
s. 18Enforceability of agreements
s. 19Right to inspect books of Trade Union
s. 20Rights of minor to membership of Trade Union
s. 21Disqualification of office-bearers of Trade Unions
s. 22Adjudication of disputes of Trade Unions
s. 23Proportion of office-bearers to be connected with industry
s. 24Change of name, amalgamation, notice of change and its effect
s. 25Dissolution
s. 26Annual returns
s. 27Recognition of Trade Unions at Central and State level

Chapter IV — Standing Orders

s. 28Application of this Chapter
s. 29Making of model standing orders by Central Government and temporary application
s. 30Preparation of draft standing orders by employer and procedure for certification
s. 31Certifying officer and appellate authority to have powers of civil court
s. 32Appeals
s. 33Date of operation of standing orders and its availability
s. 34Register of standing orders
s. 35Duration and modification of standing orders
s. 36Oral evidence in contradiction of standing orders not admissible
s. 37Interpretation, etc., of standing orders
s. 38Time-limit for completing disciplinary proceedings and liability to pay subsistence allowance
s. 39Power to exempt

Chapter V — Notice of Change

s. 40Notice of change
s. 41Power of appropriate Government to exempt

Chapter VI — Voluntary Reference of Disputes to Arbitration

s. 42Voluntary reference of disputes to arbitration

Chapter VII — Mechanism for Resolution of Industrial Disputes

s. 43Conciliation officers
s. 44Industrial Tribunal
s. 45Finality of constitution of Tribunal
s. 46National Industrial Tribunal
s. 47Decision of Tribunal or National Industrial Tribunal
s. 48Disqualifications for members of Tribunal and National Industrial Tribunal
s. 49Procedure and powers of arbitrator, conciliation officer, Tribunal and National Industrial Tribunal
s. 50Powers of Tribunal and National Industrial Tribunal to give appropriate relief in case of discharge or dismissal of worker
s. 51Transfer of pending cases
s. 52Adjustment of services of presiding officers under repealed Act
s. 53Conciliation and adjudication of dispute
s. 54Reference to and functions of National Industrial Tribunal
s. 55Form of award, its communication and commencement
s. 56Payment of full wages to worker pending proceedings in higher Courts
s. 57Persons on whom settlements and awards are binding
s. 58Period of operation of settlements and awards
s. 59Recovery of money due from employer
s. 60Commence-ment and conclusion of proceedings
s. 61Certain matters to be kept confidential

Chapter VIII — Strikes and Lock-outs

s. 62Prohibition of strikes and lock-outs
s. 63Illegal strikes and lock-outs
s. 64Prohibition of financial aid to illegal strikes or lock-outs

Chapter IX — Lay-off, Retrenchment and Closure

s. 65Application of sections 67 to 69
s. 66Definition of continuous service
s. 67Rights of workers laid-off for compensation, etc
s. 68Duty of an employer to maintain muster rolls of workers
s. 69Workers not entitled for compensation in certain cases
s. 70Conditions precedent to retrenchment of workers
s. 71Procedure for retrenchment
s. 72Re-employment of retrenched worker
s. 73Compensation to workers in case of transfer of establishment
s. 74Sixty days' notice to be given of intention to close down any undertaking
s. 75Compensation to workers in case of closing down of undertakings
s. 76Effect of laws inconsistent with this Chapter

Chapter X — Special Provisions Relating to Lay-off, Retrenchment and Closure in Certain Establishments

s. 77Application of this Chapter
s. 78Prohibition of lay-off
s. 79Conditions precedent to retrenchment of workers to which Chapter X applies
s. 80Procedure for closing down an industrial establishment
s. 81Duty of an employer to maintain muster rolls of workers
s. 82Certain provisions of Chapter IX to apply to industrial establishment to which this Chapter applies

Chapter XI — Worker Re-skilling Fund

s. 83Worker re-skilling fund

Chapter XII — Unfair Labour Practices

s. 84Prohibition of unfair labour practice

Chapter XIII — Offences and Penalties

s. 85Power of officers of appropriate Government to impose penalty in certain cases
s. 86Penalties
s. 87Cognizance of offences
s. 88Offences by companies
s. 89Composition of offences

Chapter XIV — Miscellaneous

s. 90Conditions of service, etc., to remain unchanged under certain circumstances during pendency of proceedings
s. 91Special provision for adjudication as to whether conditions of service, etc., changed during pendency of proceedings
s. 92Power to transfer certain proceedings
s. 93Protection of persons
s. 94Representation of parties
s. 95Removal of doubts in interpretation of award or settlement
s. 96Power to exempt
s. 97Jurisdiction of civil courts barred
s. 98Protection of action taken in good faith
s. 99Power of appropriate Government to make rules
s. 100Delegation of powers
s. 101Power to amend Schedules
s. 102Amendment of Act 7 of 2017
s. 103Power to remove difficulties
s. 104Repeal and savings

Schedules

First Schedule
Second Schedule
Third Schedule

Contents of the Industrial Relations Code

Industrial Relations Code

Chapter I — Preliminary

s. 1Short title, extent and commencement
s. 2Definitions

Chapter II — Bi-partite Forums

s. 3Works Committee
s. 4Grievance Redressal Committee

Chapter III — Trade Unions

s. 5Registrar of Trade Unions
s. 6Criteria for registration
s. 7Provisions to be contained in constitution or rules of Trade Union
s. 8Application for registration, alteration of name and procedure thereof
s. 9Registration of Trade Union and cancellation thereof
s. 10Appeal against non-registration or cancellation of registration
s. 11Communication to Trade Union and change in its registration particulars
s. 12Incorporation of a registered Trade Union
s. 13Certain Acts not to apply to registered Trade Unions
s. 14Recognition of negotiating union or negotiating council
s. 15Objects of general fund, composition of separate fund and membership fee of Trade Union
s. 16Immunity from civil suit in certain cases
s. 17Criminal conspiracy in furtherance of objects of Trade Union
s. 18Enforceability of agreements
s. 19Right to inspect books of Trade Union
s. 20Rights of minor to membership of Trade Union
s. 21Disqualification of office-bearers of Trade Unions
s. 22Adjudication of disputes of Trade Unions
s. 23Proportion of office-bearers to be connected with industry
s. 24Change of name, amalgamation, notice of change and its effect
s. 25Dissolution
s. 26Annual returns
s. 27Recognition of Trade Unions at Central and State level

Chapter IV — Standing Orders

s. 28Application of this Chapter
s. 29Making of model standing orders by Central Government and temporary application
s. 30Preparation of draft standing orders by employer and procedure for certification
s. 31Certifying officer and appellate authority to have powers of civil court
s. 32Appeals
s. 33Date of operation of standing orders and its availability
s. 34Register of standing orders
s. 35Duration and modification of standing orders
s. 36Oral evidence in contradiction of standing orders not admissible
s. 37Interpretation, etc., of standing orders
s. 38Time-limit for completing disciplinary proceedings and liability to pay subsistence allowance
s. 39Power to exempt

Chapter V — Notice of Change

s. 40Notice of change
s. 41Power of appropriate Government to exempt

Chapter VI — Voluntary Reference of Disputes to Arbitration

s. 42Voluntary reference of disputes to arbitration

Chapter VII — Mechanism for Resolution of Industrial Disputes

s. 43Conciliation officers
s. 44Industrial Tribunal
s. 45Finality of constitution of Tribunal
s. 46National Industrial Tribunal
s. 47Decision of Tribunal or National Industrial Tribunal
s. 48Disqualifications for members of Tribunal and National Industrial Tribunal
s. 49Procedure and powers of arbitrator, conciliation officer, Tribunal and National Industrial Tribunal
s. 50Powers of Tribunal and National Industrial Tribunal to give appropriate relief in case of discharge or dismissal of worker
s. 51Transfer of pending cases
s. 52Adjustment of services of presiding officers under repealed Act
s. 53Conciliation and adjudication of dispute
s. 54Reference to and functions of National Industrial Tribunal
s. 55Form of award, its communication and commencement
s. 56Payment of full wages to worker pending proceedings in higher Courts
s. 57Persons on whom settlements and awards are binding
s. 58Period of operation of settlements and awards
s. 59Recovery of money due from employer
s. 60Commence-ment and conclusion of proceedings
s. 61Certain matters to be kept confidential

Chapter VIII — Strikes and Lock-outs

s. 62Prohibition of strikes and lock-outs
s. 63Illegal strikes and lock-outs
s. 64Prohibition of financial aid to illegal strikes or lock-outs

Chapter IX — Lay-off, Retrenchment and Closure

s. 65Application of sections 67 to 69
s. 66Definition of continuous service
s. 67Rights of workers laid-off for compensation, etc
s. 68Duty of an employer to maintain muster rolls of workers
s. 69Workers not entitled for compensation in certain cases
s. 70Conditions precedent to retrenchment of workers
s. 71Procedure for retrenchment
s. 72Re-employment of retrenched worker
s. 73Compensation to workers in case of transfer of establishment
s. 74Sixty days' notice to be given of intention to close down any undertaking
s. 75Compensation to workers in case of closing down of undertakings
s. 76Effect of laws inconsistent with this Chapter

Chapter X — Special Provisions Relating to Lay-off, Retrenchment and Closure in Certain Establishments

s. 77Application of this Chapter
s. 78Prohibition of lay-off
s. 79Conditions precedent to retrenchment of workers to which Chapter X applies
s. 80Procedure for closing down an industrial establishment
s. 81Duty of an employer to maintain muster rolls of workers
s. 82Certain provisions of Chapter IX to apply to industrial establishment to which this Chapter applies

Chapter XI — Worker Re-skilling Fund

s. 83Worker re-skilling fund

Chapter XII — Unfair Labour Practices

s. 84Prohibition of unfair labour practice

Chapter XIII — Offences and Penalties

s. 85Power of officers of appropriate Government to impose penalty in certain cases
s. 86Penalties
s. 87Cognizance of offences
s. 88Offences by companies
s. 89Composition of offences

Chapter XIV — Miscellaneous

s. 90Conditions of service, etc., to remain unchanged under certain circumstances during pendency of proceedings
s. 91Special provision for adjudication as to whether conditions of service, etc., changed during pendency of proceedings
s. 92Power to transfer certain proceedings
s. 93Protection of persons
s. 94Representation of parties
s. 95Removal of doubts in interpretation of award or settlement
s. 96Power to exempt
s. 97Jurisdiction of civil courts barred
s. 98Protection of action taken in good faith
s. 99Power of appropriate Government to make rules
s. 100Delegation of powers
s. 101Power to amend Schedules
s. 102Amendment of Act 7 of 2017
s. 103Power to remove difficulties
s. 104Repeal and savings

Schedules

First Schedule
Second Schedule
Third Schedule

The Industrial Relations Code, 2020

Section 39. Power to exempt

In force since 21 Nov 2025Chapter IV — Standing Orders

Open the definition in the Code

Official text

The appropriate Government may, by notification, exempt, conditionally or unconditionally, any industrial establishment or class of industrial establishments from all or any of the provisions of this Chapter.

Source: The Industrial Relations Code, 2020, Act No. 35 of 2020 — Gazette of India, p. 20 of the PDF. Open our copy at p. 20 · official download · all sources

Explained simply in: Standing orders guide

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”

← Section 38Time-limit for completing disciplinary proceedings and liability to pay subsistence allowance Section 40 →Notice of change