The Draft Industrial Relations (Punjab) Rules, 2026, issued on December 29, 2025, introduce a comprehensive framework for managing industrial relations in Punjab. Below are the specific details regarding the key provisions and administrative structures outlined in the document:
1. Bi-partite Forums
• Works Committee: Every employer subject to an order under section 3 of the Code must constitute a Works Committee. It must have between 6 and 12 members, with an equal or greater number of worker representatives compared to employer representatives. The committee includes a Chairman (nominated by the employer) and a Vice-Chairman (elected by worker members).
• Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC): This committee must have an equal number of members from both sides, not exceeding 10 total. It must include women workers in a proportion at least equal to their representation in the total workforce. The tenure for members is three years.
2. Trade Union Regulations
• Registration: Applications for registration (Form IV) must be accompanied by an affidavit (Form III) and a fee.
• Negotiating Union/Council: * A single registered trade union with at least 33% membership of the workforce will be recognized as the sole negotiating union.
o If multiple unions exist, a union with 51% or more membership is recognized as the sole negotiating union.
o If no union meets the 51% threshold, a negotiating council is formed.
• Negotiable Matters: These include worker classification, hours of work, holidays, wage rates, shift working, attendance, leave procedures, termination of employment, and disciplinary actions for misconduct.
3. Industrial Dispute Mechanisms
• Conciliation: Any worker aggrieved by a GRC decision or lack of resolution within 30 days can file an application with a Conciliation Officer within 60 days.
• Arbitration: Parties can enter a written agreement (Form IX) for voluntary arbitration. Arbitrators must generally submit their award within 90 days of notification.
• Industrial Tribunal: The State Industrial Tribunal will consist of a Judicial Member (a serving judge) and an Administrative Member (a retired Group A officer with quasi-judicial experience).
4. Strikes, Lock-outs, and Retrenchment
• Notice Requirements: A notice of strike (Form XIII) requires a resolution signed by a majority of trade union members. Notice of a lock-out (Form XIV) must be displayed conspicuously and sent to the union and relevant labor authorities.
• Retrenchment: Employers must provide notice (Form XV) to the State Government and Labor Commissioner if they intend to retrench a worker with at least one year of continuous service.
5. Standing Orders
• Certification: Employers must submit draft standing orders for certification. If a registered trade union exists, the certifying officer seeks their objections or suggestions within 15 days.
• Appeals: Appeals against the certifying officers orders must be filed within 60 days using a memorandum of appeal in tabular form.
6. Important Contact for Submissions
Any objections or suggestions regarding these draft rules must be sent within 30 days of the notifications publication to:
• The Labour Commissioner, Punjab, Model Welfare Centre (Kirat Bhawan), Phase-X, Sector-64, SAS Nagar (Mohali).
• Email: supdthq.disp.imp@gmail.com

Under Section Section 2 - The Draft Industrial Relations (Punjab) Rules, 2026, issued on December 29, 2025, introduce a comprehensive framework for managing industrial relations in Punjab. Below are the specific details regarding the key provisions and administrative structures outlined in the document:
1. Bi-partite Forums
• Works Committee: Every employer subject to an order under section 3 of the Code must constitute a Works Committee. It must have between 6 and 12 members, with an equal or greater number of worker representatives compared to employer representatives. The committee includes a Chairman (nominated by the employer) and a Vice-Chairman (elected by worker members).
• Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC): This committee must have an equal number of members from both sides, not exceeding 10 total. It must include women workers in a proportion at least equal to their representation in the total workforce. The tenure for members is three years.
2. Trade Union Regulations
• Registration: Applications for registration (Form IV) must be accompanied by an affidavit (Form III) and a fee.
• Negotiating Union/Council: * A single registered trade union with at least 33% membership of the workforce will be recognized as the sole negotiating union.
o If multiple unions exist, a union with 51% or more membership is recognized as the sole negotiating union.
o If no union meets the 51% threshold, a negotiating council is formed.
• Negotiable Matters: These include worker classification, hours of work, holidays, wage rates, shift working, attendance, leave procedures, termination of employment, and disciplinary actions for misconduct.
3. Industrial Dispute Mechanisms
• Conciliation: Any worker aggrieved by a GRC decision or lack of resolution within 30 days can file an application with a Conciliation Officer within 60 days.
• Arbitration: Parties can enter a written agreement (Form IX) for voluntary arbitration. Arbitrators must generally submit their award within 90 days of notification.
• Industrial Tribunal: The State Industrial Tribunal will consist of a Judicial Member (a serving judge) and an Administrative Member (a retired Group A officer with quasi-judicial experience).
4. Strikes, Lock-outs, and Retrenchment
• Notice Requirements: A notice of strike (Form XIII) requires a resolution signed by a majority of trade union members. Notice of a lock-out (Form XIV) must be displayed conspicuously and sent to the union and relevant labor authorities.
• Retrenchment: Employers must provide notice (Form XV) to the State Government and Labor Commissioner if they intend to retrench a worker with at least one year of continuous service.
5. Standing Orders
• Certification: Employers must submit draft standing orders for certification. If a registered trade union exists, the certifying officer seeks their objections or suggestions within 15 days.
• Appeals: Appeals against the certifying officers orders must be filed within 60 days using a memorandum of appeal in tabular form.
6. Important Contact for Submissions
Any objections or suggestions regarding these draft rules must be sent within 30 days of the notifications publication to:
• The Labour Commissioner, Punjab, Model Welfare Centre (Kirat Bhawan), Phase-X, Sector-64, SAS Nagar (Mohali).
• Email: supdthq.disp.imp@gmail.com

Notification No.Labo Misc/192/2025-42/1076 dated 29-Dec-2025

The Draft Industrial Relations (Punjab) Rules, 2026, issued on December 29, 2025, introduce a comprehensive framework for managing industrial relations in Punjab. Below are the specific details regarding the key provisions and administrative structures outlined in the document:
1. Bi-partite Forums
• Works Committee: Every employer subject to an order under section 3 of the Code must constitute a Works Committee. It must have between 6 and 12 members, with an equal or greater number of worker representatives compared to employer representatives. The committee includes a Chairman (nominated by the employer) and a Vice-Chairman (elected by worker members).
• Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC): This committee must have an equal number of members from both sides, not exceeding 10 total. It must include women workers in a proportion at least equal to their representation in the total workforce. The tenure for members is three years.
2. Trade Union Regulations
• Registration: Applications for registration (Form IV) must be accompanied by an affidavit (Form III) and a fee.
• Negotiating Union/Council: * A single registered trade union with at least 33% membership of the workforce will be recognized as the sole negotiating union.
o If multiple unions exist, a union with 51% or more membership is recognized as the sole negotiating union.
o If no union meets the 51% threshold, a negotiating council is formed.
• Negotiable Matters: These include worker classification, hours of work, holidays, wage rates, shift working, attendance, leave procedures, termination of employment, and disciplinary actions for misconduct.
3. Industrial Dispute Mechanisms
• Conciliation: Any worker aggrieved by a GRC decision or lack of resolution within 30 days can file an application with a Conciliation Officer within 60 days.
• Arbitration: Parties can enter a written agreement (Form IX) for voluntary arbitration. Arbitrators must generally submit their award within 90 days of notification.
• Industrial Tribunal: The State Industrial Tribunal will consist of a Judicial Member (a serving judge) and an Administrative Member (a retired Group A officer with quasi-judicial experience).
4. Strikes, Lock-outs, and Retrenchment
• Notice Requirements: A notice of strike (Form XIII) requires a resolution signed by a majority of trade union members. Notice of a lock-out (Form XIV) must be displayed conspicuously and sent to the union and relevant labor authorities.
• Retrenchment: Employers must provide notice (Form XV) to the State Government and Labor Commissioner if they intend to retrench a worker with at least one year of continuous service.
5. Standing Orders
• Certification: Employers must submit draft standing orders for certification. If a registered trade union exists, the certifying officer seeks their objections or suggestions within 15 days.
• Appeals: Appeals against the certifying officers orders must be filed within 60 days using a memorandum of appeal in tabular form.
6. Important Contact for Submissions
Any objections or suggestions regarding these draft rules must be sent within 30 days of the notifications publication to:
• The Labour Commissioner, Punjab, Model Welfare Centre (Kirat Bhawan), Phase-X, Sector-64, SAS Nagar (Mohali).
• Email: supdthq.disp.imp@gmail.com

Under Section Section 2 - The Draft Industrial Relations (Punjab) Rules, 2026, issued on December 29, 2025, introduce a comprehensive framework for managing industrial relations in Punjab. Below are the specific details regarding the key provisions and administrative structures outlined in the document:
1. Bi-partite Forums
• Works Committee: Every employer subject to an order under section 3 of the Code must constitute a Works Committee. It must have between 6 and 12 members, with an equal or greater number of worker representatives compared to employer representatives. The committee includes a Chairman (nominated by the employer) and a Vice-Chairman (elected by worker members).
• Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC): This committee must have an equal number of members from both sides, not exceeding 10 total. It must include women workers in a proportion at least equal to their representation in the total workforce. The tenure for members is three years.
2. Trade Union Regulations
• Registration: Applications for registration (Form IV) must be accompanied by an affidavit (Form III) and a fee.
• Negotiating Union/Council: * A single registered trade union with at least 33% membership of the workforce will be recognized as the sole negotiating union.
o If multiple unions exist, a union with 51% or more membership is recognized as the sole negotiating union.
o If no union meets the 51% threshold, a negotiating council is formed.
• Negotiable Matters: These include worker classification, hours of work, holidays, wage rates, shift working, attendance, leave procedures, termination of employment, and disciplinary actions for misconduct.
3. Industrial Dispute Mechanisms
• Conciliation: Any worker aggrieved by a GRC decision or lack of resolution within 30 days can file an application with a Conciliation Officer within 60 days.
• Arbitration: Parties can enter a written agreement (Form IX) for voluntary arbitration. Arbitrators must generally submit their award within 90 days of notification.
• Industrial Tribunal: The State Industrial Tribunal will consist of a Judicial Member (a serving judge) and an Administrative Member (a retired Group A officer with quasi-judicial experience).
4. Strikes, Lock-outs, and Retrenchment
• Notice Requirements: A notice of strike (Form XIII) requires a resolution signed by a majority of trade union members. Notice of a lock-out (Form XIV) must be displayed conspicuously and sent to the union and relevant labor authorities.
• Retrenchment: Employers must provide notice (Form XV) to the State Government and Labor Commissioner if they intend to retrench a worker with at least one year of continuous service.
5. Standing Orders
• Certification: Employers must submit draft standing orders for certification. If a registered trade union exists, the certifying officer seeks their objections or suggestions within 15 days.
• Appeals: Appeals against the certifying officers orders must be filed within 60 days using a memorandum of appeal in tabular form.
6. Important Contact for Submissions
Any objections or suggestions regarding these draft rules must be sent within 30 days of the notifications publication to:
• The Labour Commissioner, Punjab, Model Welfare Centre (Kirat Bhawan), Phase-X, Sector-64, SAS Nagar (Mohali).
• Email: supdthq.disp.imp@gmail.com

Notification Labo Misc/192/2025-42/1076] dated 29-Dec-2025