BSSS Department of Social Work Organises Seminar on Labour Codes

The Department of Social Work, The Bhopal School of Social Sciences (BSSS), organised a seminar on “Labour Codes” on 24 September 2026 in hybrid mode. The session featured Dr. Shailendra Vishwakarma as the Resource Person and focused on developing an understanding of India’s evolving labour law framework and its relevance to the changing world of work.

The initiative was conceptualised by Mr. Vinish Shaji, HoD, Department of Social Work, with the objective of providing students and participants with greater exposure to contemporary developments in labour legislation and their relevance to labour welfare and social work practice.

The seminar witnessed enthusiastic participation, with more than 90 participants joining online and around 35 attending offline. Participants representing 16 academic institutions and organisations from different parts of the country joined the programme, creating a diverse academic learning environment.

During the session, Dr. Shailendra Vishwakarma provided an overview of the transition from 29 central labour laws to four comprehensive Labour Codes and discussed their significance in contemporary employment relations. The discussion covered the Code on Wages, Industrial Relations Code, Code on Social Security, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code.

The seminar also explored practical dimensions of industrial relations, including collective bargaining, trade unions, strikes, lockouts, layoffs, disciplinary procedures and documentation. Particular attention was given to emerging forms of employment and the relevance of social security for gig and platform workers.

Other areas discussed included occupational safety and health, workplace welfare, employee retention, gender equity, equal pay and workplace governance. For Social Work students, the session provided an opportunity to connect academic learning with professional practice by examining the relationship between labour legislation, labour welfare, human rights and social justice.

The Department acknowledged the seamless support and coordination of Dr. Rutwik J. Gandhe, Associate Professor, throughout the seminar. Dr. Richi Simon, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, served as the Event Coordinator and coordinated the academic and organisational aspects of the programme.

The student team contributed significantly to the successful conduct and documentation of the event. Ms. Amrita Shree served as the Emcee, Ms. Akansha Gurjar as Rapporteur, while Ms. Eva Aghamkar and Mr. Rahul Parmar handled photography and visual documentation.

The Department of Social Work expresses its gratitude to Dr. Shailendra Vishwakarma for sharing his expertise and practical insights, and to all participating institutions, faculty members, students and members of the organising team for their valuable contribution.

The programme concluded with an emphasis on understanding labour legislation not merely as a legal framework, but also in relation to workers’ rights, dignity, welfare and social justice.

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