<p>Post economic reform period, in response to the strident demands of employers, the central and the state governments have undertaken several labour law and governance reforms in trickles. Predictably, trade unions have been opposing them. The reform of labour laws has gained momentum since the assumption of power by BJP-led NDA government at the Centre in May 2014. Recently some state governments like Rajasthan have&nbsp;carried out significant reforms of the labour laws. The NDA government has taken a big stride in the reform initiative by rationalising numerous labour laws into four codes on wages, industrial relations, social security and safety and working conditions.&nbsp; These Codes include significant reforms ensuring flexibility for employers and some benefits for workers. The proposed reforms have far reaching implications. Hence, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive introduction to and analysis of these reform measures in a single volume.&nbsp;</p> <p><br /> This volume, in honour of Prof L.K. Deshpande, provides rich insights into the contemporary labour law reform debates in a comprehensive manner. Perhaps for the first time, it contains articles primarily from stakeholders in the industrial relations system, viz. representatives of trade unions and employers, business consultants, and [retired] government official in addition to a few academics. All these contributors bring on board rich but diverse perspectives, arising from their long-standing on-field experience, on the changes in and the proposed reforms to labour laws and policies. Thus, this volume is more than an academic read. In this sense, this volume seeks to fill in a critical void in the literature on the ongoing debate on labour law and governance reforms in India. It will hopefully prove to be a major contribution to enabling an understanding of the ongoing labour law and governance reforms and their possible impacts on the ease of doing business and also on workers’ rights.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>The volume is a must for all those interested in labour markets, industrial relations, labour law reforms, institutions and development. (from the foreword)<br /> <strong>—Alakh N. Sharma,</strong> Director, Institute for Human Development and Editor, Indian Journal of Labour Economics.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>...this collection of essays, coming from some of the top names in employment relations and laws in India, is very timely. I am sure it is a very good attempt to revive this discourse...<br /> <strong>—Debi Saini,</strong> Emeritus Professor of Human Resource Management, IIM Ranchi.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>K.R. Shyam Sundar’s book ... in honour of Prof L.K. Deshpande, provides a rich insight into the contemporary labour law reform debates and the economic, political and social changes taking place in India...It is a valuable contribution to understanding the changes taking place in the world of work&nbsp;<br /> in India today.<br /> <strong>—Kamala Sankaran,</strong> Vice Chancellor, Tamil Nadu National Law School.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A “must read” comprehensive examination of labour law reforms in India, written by authors from a variety of perspectives, and released at a crucial juncture in India’s labour law and labour relations trajectory.&nbsp;<br /> <strong>—Sarosh Kuruvilla,</strong> Professor of Industrial Relations, Asian Studies and Public Affairs, Cornell University.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>... Prof L.K. Despande’s...thinking is amply projected in the collection of well written papers that Prof K.R. Shyam Sundar has compiled in his edited volume.&nbsp; His book will prove to be a major contribution in enhancing understanding of the on-going labour law reforms and their possible&nbsp;<br /> impacts on the ease of doing business as also on rights at work.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br /> <strong>—Pravin Sinha,</strong> President, National Lab-our Law Association, India; and Secretary General, Indian Industrial Relations&nbsp;<br /> Association.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>...Shyam Sundar brings together a dream team of labour policymakers, advisers and researchers to help us engage in constructive debates that can propel the labour policy reform agenda forward to ensure sustainable economic and social progress.<br /> <strong>—Anil Verma,</strong> Professor, Rotman School of Management &amp; Centre for Industrial Relations &amp; Human Resource Management, University of Toronto, Canada.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Prof Shyam Sundar and his colleagues are to be congratulated for a most valuable and timely volume which examines the very important issue of how the industrial relations system in India can be reformed to be more liberal and flexible while protecting and advancing labour rights...<br /> <strong>—Russell Lansbury,</strong> Emeritus Professor at the University of Sydney, Australia and Past President of the International Labour and Employment Relations&nbsp;<br /> Association.<br /> &nbsp;</p> <p>This landmark book includes astute analysis by leading authorities on industrial relations and labour law in India...<br /> <strong>—Greg J. Bamber,</strong> Professor, Monash University, Australia/Newcastle University, UK; co-editor, International &amp; Comparative Employment Relations: National Regulation, Global Changes.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This volume seeks to fill in a critical void in the literature on the ongoing debate on labour law reforms in India... The diverse voices and perspectives in this book...I hope, contribute to a consensus, regarding labour and employment policy in India which will ensure an efficient industrial relations system, pivotal to the requirements of sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth in India.&nbsp;<br /> <strong>—Ravi&nbsp; S. Srivastava,</strong> Professor of Economics, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Chairperson, Institute of Development, Studies, Jaipur.</p>