Centre reviews workplace accountability standards after new labour codes

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has commissioned research to examine whether amendments are needed to its existing Social Accountability at the Workplace norms, which set out requirements for organisations to establish policies, procedures and practices related to ethical conduct and workers’ welfare, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The study will assess the relevance of the existing framework in light of recent policy and regulatory changes aimed at strengthening labour protections, the first of the two officials said.

Mint reviewed the terms of reference for the research and development (R&D) project. These include reforms relating to child labour, forced labour, anti-discrimination provisions, whistleblower protection, data privacy and workplace safety, this person said.

“Updating the workplace social accountability standard is important at a time when India’s labour regulations are undergoing major changes,” said Sumita Dawra, former labour secretary. “As the four labour codes aim to simplify compliance while strengthening worker protection, revising such standards can help organisations align their internal policies with evolving legal and ethical expectations at the workplace.”

In response to a Mint query, Amit Kumar Singh, deputy director-marketing & consumer affairs, BIS, said the respective sectional committee reviews all published Indian standards every five years.

“The review [of IS 16001:2012] also aims to ensure that the standard remains relevant, contemporary and aligned with current national priorities and global best practices," Singh said. “The review will also take into account the R&D study conducted by BITS Pilani on ‘Study of Social Accountability at the Workplace’ to undertake a detailed study on the subject. It will also consider the upcoming implementation of the four labour codes, as well as regulations and policy developments introduced by the government.”

Indian businesses are preparing for the implementation of the country’s four labour codes — the Code on Wages, 2019; Industrial Relations Code, 2020; Code on Social Security, 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 — which consolidate and modernize nearly 29 labour laws governing wages, industrial relations, social security and workplace safety.

“The study will undertake a comprehensive review of existing literature, international standards, regulatory guidelines and organisational practices related to social accountability. The exercise will also examine best practices followed globally and assess how organisations in India are implementing workplace accountability measures,” said the second official.

It will include consultations with multiple stakeholders, including government bodies, public sector undertakings, private companies and other organisations. A structured survey will also be conducted to assess awareness of the standard, identify gaps in its implementation, and understand the challenges organisations face in adopting social accountability frameworks.

Under the plan, at least six organisations that have not implemented IS 16001 but may adopt it in the future will be visited. The survey findings are expected to support the revision and implementation of the standard. In addition, three stakeholders, including potential beneficiaries of social accountability, such as employees, contract workers, or representatives of worker groups, will be consulted to understand their requirements and concerns regarding workplace practices.

Employment rose from 47.5 crore in 2017-18 to 64.33 crore in 2023-24, adding a net 16.83 crore jobs in just six years. Unemployment fell sharply from 6.0% to 3.2%, while 1.56 crore women entered the formal workforce, she said.

“At this point, the government's initiative to reform workplace social accountability norms is both appropriate and essential," said Sonal Arora, country manager, GI Group Holding. "Stronger governance and more transparent compliance procedures will facilitate organizations' seamless transition as these labour rules approach full implementation, strengthening accountability, fairness, and trust in India's changing workplace."

Sandeep Gulati, managing director at ManpowerGroup India and the Middle East, said as India continues to strengthen its position as a global talent and business hub, “aligning workplace practices with evolving regulatory and governance frameworks will remain an important factor in supporting long-term, sustainable growth”.