What do the new labour codes mean for my warehouse, packing and delivery staff?
The four labour codes came into force on 21 November 2025 and replaced 29 central laws, and three changes reach a small D2C team quickly. 'Wages' must now be at least 50% of total pay, so a salary built on a low basic and large allowances has to be restructured, which raises PF and gratuity costs. Fixed-term staff, common for festive-season packers, earn gratuity after one year instead of five. And every hire needs a written appointment letter. If you use a 3PL or a staffing agency you can still be liable as the principal employer when they skip wages or PF, so ask for their compliance records. Riders on courier and quick-commerce apps are gig workers whose social-security contribution falls on the aggregator once the rate is notified, not on you. States were still notifying their own rules through 2026, so check yours.
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An FAQ from one of India's largest staffing companies on what the four labour codes, in force from 21 November 2025, change for employers.
Taxmann's September 2026 analysis of what the Code on Social Security asks of platforms that use gig and platform workers, and what had and had not been notified.
