It has long been argued that India’s labour laws hold back business, particularly the manufacturing sector, from roaring into action and joining the India growth story. Now, India’s 29 central labour laws have been consolidated into four labour codes, notified on 21 November in what the government has called a “landmark move” that “heralds transformational change” and “lays the foundations of a future-ready workforce.” The operationalisation has been welcomed by many observers as one of the biggest steps in India’s journey of reforms.

There is little doubt that labour laws, and indeed several other laws, practices and traditions, in this country are outdated, many flowing from the British Raj and deserve to be revisited. So, in general, a review of what is being presented and even denigra

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