Govt Notifies Social Security (Central) Rules, 2025: Major Overhaul of India’s Labour Welfare Framework

The Ministry of Labour and Employment under the Government of India has officially notified the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2025, through a Notification No. G.S.R. 344(E), dated May 08, 2026. These rules have been developed under Sections 154, 155, 158 and 159 of the Code on Social Security, 2020.

Previously, the government had published the draft version of the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2025, through a Notification No. G.S.R. 935(E), dated December 30, 2025, seeking feedback from the public and stakeholders expected to be affected by these rules, for which a time limit of 45 days from the date of publishing of the said notification, i.e., December 30, 2025, was granted.

After the end of the allotted time limit, the government thoroughly analysed each submitted feedback and accordingly made changes to the draft version and thereafter released the final rules in exercise of its powers granted under sub-section (1) of section 154 read with sub-section (2) thereof and sub-section (1) of section 155 read with sub-section (2) thereof and Section 158 and sub-section (1) read with sub-section (2) of section 159 of the Code on Social Security, 2020 (36 of 2020) and read with section 24 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897).

The new rules replace several older labour and social security regulations that were issued between 1924 and 2009. These includes:

• Employee‘s Compensation Rules, 1924;
• Employee‘s Compensation (Transfer of Money) Rules, 1935;
• Employees‘ State Insurance (Central) Rules, 1950;
• Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Rules, 1960;
• Maternity Benefit (Mines and Circus) Rules, 1963;
• Payment of Gratuity (Central) Rules, 1972;
• Cine-Workers Welfare Fund Rules, 1984;
• Employee‘s Compensation (Venue of Proceedings) Rules, 1996;
• Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1997;
• Employees‘ Provident Funds Appellate Tribunal (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1997;
• Building and other Constructions Workers‘ Welfare Cess Rules, 1998; and
• Unorganised Workers‘ Social Security Rules, 2009;

These include rules concerning employee compensation, Employees’ State Insurance (ESI), gratuity, maternity benefits for miners and circus workers, welfare cess for construction workers, employment exchanges, provident fund tribunals, and social security for unorganised workers. However, actions already taken under the previous rules will remain valid.

Refer to the official notification for complete information.