Industrial Disputes Act, 1947: Historical Sections & Current Industrial Relations Code, 2020
Current legal status
The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 is no longer the principal current Central law governing industrial relations. The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 was brought into force by the Central Government with effect from 21 November 2025. The Code consolidates and replaces the central framework previously contained in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the Trade Unions Act, 1926 and the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946, subject to the Code's repeal-and-savings provisions.
The section-wise links below are retained as a historical and legal-reference index to the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. For present-day disputes, strikes and lock-outs, retrenchment, closure, trade unions, standing orders and industrial dispute resolution, consult the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 and applicable rules, notifications and transitional provisions.
CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY
Section 1 of Industrial Disputes Act 1947 : "Short title, extent and commencement"
1. (1) This Act may be called the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force on the first day of April, 1947.
Section 2A - Dismissal, etc., of an individual workman to be deemed to be an industrial dispute
CHAPTER II - AUTHORITIES UNDER THIS ACT
Section 4 - Conciliation officers
Section 5 - Boards of Conciliation
Section 7B - National Tribunals
Section 8 - Filling of vacancies
Section 9 - Finality of orders constituting Boards, etc
CHAPTER IIA - NOTICE OF CHANGE
Section 9B - Power of Government to exempt
CHAPTER IIB GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MACHINERY
Section 9C - Setting up of Grievance Redressal Machinery
Section 10 - Reference of disputes to Boards, Courts or Tribunals
Section 10A - Voluntary reference of disputes to arbitration
CHAPTER IV PROCEDURE, POWERS AND DUTIES OF AUTHORITIES
Section 12 - Duties of conciliation officers
Section 15 - Duties of Labour Courts, Tribunals and National Tribunals
Section 16 - Form of report or award
Section 17 - Publication of reports and awards
Section 17A - Commencement of the award
Section 17B - Payment of full wages to workman pending proceedings in higher courts
Section 18 - Persons on whom settlements and awards are binding
Section 19 - Period of operation of settlements and awards
Section 20 - Commencement and conclusion of proceedings
Section 21 - Certain matters to be kept confidential
CHAPTER V STRIKES AND LOCK-OUTS
Section 22 - Prohibition of strikes and lock-outs
Section 23 - General prohibition of strikes and lock-outs
Section 24 - Illegal strikes and lock-outs
Section 25 - Prohibition of financial aid to illegal strikes and lock-outs
CHAPTER V-A LAY-OFF AND RETRENCHMENT
Section 25A - Application of sections 25C to 25E
Section 25B - Definition of continuous service
Section 25C - Right of workmen laid off for compensation
Section 25D - Duty of an employer to maintain muster rolls of workmen
Section 25E - Workmen not entitled to compensation in certain cases
Section 25F - Conditions precedent to retrenchment of workmen
Section 25FF - Compensation to workmen in case of transfer of undertakings
Section 25FFA - Sixty days' notice to be given of intention to close down any undertaking
Section 25FFF - Compensation to workmen in case of closing down of undertakings
Section 25G - Procedure for retrenchment
Section 25H - Re-employment of retrenched workmen
Section 25I - Recovery of moneys due from employers under this Chapter (omitted)
Section 25J - Effect of-laws Inconsistent with this Chapter
Section 25K - Application of Chapter V-B
Section 25M - Prohibition of lay-off
Section 25N - Conditions precedent to retrenchment of workmen
Section 25O - Procedure for closing down an undertaking
Section 25Q - Penalty for lay-off and retrenchment without previous permission
Section 25R - Penalty for closure
CHAPTER V-C UNFAIR LABOUR PRACTICES
Section 25T - Prohibition of unfair labour practice
Section 25U - Penalty for committing unfair labour practices
CHAPTER VI PENALTIES
Section 26 - Penalty for illegal strikes and lock-outs
Section 27 - Penalty for instigation, etc
Section 28 - Penalty for giving financial aid to Illegal strikes and lock-outs
Section 29 - Penalty for breach of settlement or award
Section 30 - Penalty for disclosing confidential information
Section 30A - Penalty for closure without notice
Section 31 - Penalty for other offences
CHAPTER VII MISCELLANEOUS
Section 32 - Offence by companies, etc
Section 33B - Power to transfer certain proceedings
Section 33C - Recovery of money due from an employer
Section 34 - Cognizance of offences
Section 35 - Protection of persons
Section 36 - Representation of parties
Section 36A - Power to remove difficulties
Section 37 - Protection of action taken under the Act
Section 38 - Power to make rules
Section 39 - Delegation of powers
Section 40 - Power to amend Schedules
Second Schedule - Matters within the jurisdiction of labour courts
Third Schedule - Matters within the Jurisdiction of Industrial Tribunal
Fourth Schedule - Conditions of Service for change of which notice is to be given