India’s invisible workforce gets a new safety net: Key labour reforms for migrant employees decoded

India's inter-state migrant workers gain significant protections under new labour code rules notified on May 8, 2026. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2026, bring millions of self-driven migrant workers into legal recognition. Key reforms include mandatory appointment letters, a digital database, portable ration cards, and tracked journey and displacement allowances.