India’s new labour code-2025 – A 360° framework for employment regulation, protection and productivity

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine India’s newly implemented Labour Codes through an integrated governance lens and to develop the Sustainable, Harmonised, Responsive and Modern Labour Architecture (SHRAM) Framework as an analytical and policy-oriented model to interpret labour-governance transformation, and aims to address the absence of a unified framework that simultaneously captures regulatory harmonisation, labour-market flexibility, social protection, digital governance and institutional coordination in emerging-economy contexts. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a qualitative, exploratory research design, the study employs systematic document and regulatory analysis, stakeholder mapping and a proposed Delphi-based validation pathway for future empirical refinement. The methodology is structured using TCCM (Theory–Context–Characteristics–Methodology) and ADO (Antecedents–Decisions–Outcomes) frameworks to identify gaps in existing research and guide the construction of SHRAM. Comparative assessments and case illustrations (gig work, OSH, IR disputes, migrant crisis) demonstrate the framework’s applicability. Findings The analysis reveals that the four Labour Codes signal a shift from fragmented, compliance-heavy regulation towards harmonised, technology-enabled and socially inclusive labour governance however, this transition is characterised by structural trade-offs, including flexibility versus worker protection, central harmonisation versus state-level implementation diversity, and digital governance versus institutional readiness. SHRAM highlights how the Codes aim to close persistent structural gaps across regulatory coherence, social protection, enforcement transparency and institutional coordination. The study finds that implementation capacity particularly digital readiness and Centre–State alignment – will determine the success of the reforms. Research limitations/implications The paper identifies several avenues for future empirical work, including evaluating the Codes’ impact on formalisation, wage dynamics, social-security uptake, algorithmic accountability, skill–productivity linkages and State-level implementation variations. It positions SHRAM as a foundational framework for ongoing labour-governance research in India and comparative emerging-economy contexts. Practical implications The policy blueprint developed in the study provides actionable guidance for policymakers, regulators, industry bodies, gig platforms and worker organisations. Recommendations include a phased implementation roadmap, risk-based digital inspections, portable social-security accounts, skill–wage–productivity alignment and a structured formalisation pathway. The framework supports inclusive growth and advances India’s long-term development goals under Viksit Bharat 2047. Originality/value The originality of this study lies in conceptualising SHRAM as a multidimensional analytical and policy framework that moves beyond existing labour-governance models by explicitly integrating five interacting pillars protection, harmonisation, flexibility, digital governance and institutional alignment within a single structure. Unlike prior frameworks that treat these dimensions in isolation, SHRAM captures their interdependencies and the resulting governance tensions, thereby offering a context-sensitive model applicable to India and other emerging economies.