Verified · 29 Sept 2026
Standing Orders Applicability Checker – IR Code
Check whether your establishment needs standing orders, grievance and works committees, or permission for lay-off.
✓ Verified against official notifications · 29 Sept 2026 · How we verify →
Recent change: Central Rules under all four Labour Codes notified (8 May 2026)
Standing orders are not mandatory
- No
Standing orders (certified, or adopt the model standing orders)
IR Code s.28 · from 300 workers
- Required
Grievance Redressal Committee
IR Code s.4 · from 20 workers
- Required
Works Committee
IR Code s.3 · from 100 workers
- Required
Recognition of a negotiating union or council
IR Code s.14 · from 1 worker
4 Codes in force 21 Nov 2025 · Central Rules 8 May 2026 (G.S.R. 342–344(E))Verify on EPFO / ESIC →Share on WhatsApp
For estimation only. This calculator applies the rules as we understand them on 29 Sept 2026. It is not legal or tax advice. Verify with the official notification or consult a Chartered Accountant / labour-law professional before filing or changing payroll.
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Thresholds under the IR Code
| Requirement | Workers | Old law |
|---|---|---|
| Standing orders | 300 or more | 100 or more |
| Prior permission for lay-off, retrenchment, closure (factories, mines, plantations) | 300 or more | 100 or more |
| Works Committee | 100 or more | 100 or more |
| Grievance Redressal Committee | 20 or more | 20 or more |
| Recognising a negotiating union or council | Any, where a registered union exists | State laws only |
What standing orders cover
Standing orders are the written service rules for the establishment. They must deal with how workers are classified, working hours, holidays, paydays and wage rates, shift working, attendance and late coming, leave, how employment ends, and what counts as misconduct and how it is punished.
You can draft your own and have them certified, or adopt the model standing orders the government notifies. If you do neither, the model standing orders apply by default. Most mid-sized employers adopt the model and add a short list of changes.
The two committees
The Grievance Redressal Committee handles individual complaints, with up to 10 members split equally between employer and workers, and women represented in proportion to the workforce. The Works Committee deals with day-to-day relations between management and workers, such as amenities and working conditions. Neither replaces bargaining with a union.
Which union you negotiate with
A union with 51% or more of the workers on the muster roll is recognised as the sole negotiating union. If none reaches 51%, a negotiating council is formed from unions that each have at least 20%.
Moving from 280 to 320 workers changes more than standing orders. Check the full set of obligations with the compliance checklist.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
When are standing orders required?
For industrial establishments with 300 or more workers (up from 100 under the old law).
When is a Grievance Redressal Committee required?
In establishments with 20 or more workers.