The Union Labour Ministry released draft Rules for four Labour Codes on its website on December 30, 2025. The public has 45 days to respond. The new rules define workers, wages, employment types, gratuity, bonus, and social security, including protections for gig workers. The rules fix work hours at 48 per week and include safety measures for women working night shifts. They merge 18 past wage rules like the Payment of Wages Rules (1937) and Minimum Wages Rules (1950). Minimum wages will be based on a standard family model, covering food, rent, fuel, clothing, education, and medical costs. The government will consider geography, experience, and skill levels when fixing wages. A technical committee led by the Director General of Employment will advise on skill categories. A Central Advisory Board will set floor wages based on living standards. Social security rules replace 12 older guidelines, including Employees' State Insurance and Provident Fund rules. A National Social Security Board will include representatives of unorganised workers, employers, and five rotating gig worker members. Establishments with 50 or more employees must provide creches for children under six. Safety and health rules, superseding 13 older rules, require employers to provide free annual medical exams for workers over 40. Workers must have appointment letters with Aadhaar and UAN. Overtime pay is double the normal wage. Women working night shifts must give written consent, and employers must provide transport and CCTV. Industrial relations rules cover trade union registration and allow secret ballots. Workers are categorized into permanent, temporary, apprentices, probationers, badlis, fixed term, and casual. Fixed term employment requires a written contract for a set period.