One Central Registration: India’s Answer to Labor Compliance Complexity

India’s four labor codes, expected to be operational nationwide by April 1, 2026, introduce one central registration framework for employers in India, cutting duplication while preserving statutory worker protections.

India’s four new labor codes, expected to be fully operational by April 1, 2026, include a fundamental shift in how employers register, license, and comply with labor regulations. One of the most consequential reforms for businesses is the move towards “one central registration,” which replaces the fragmented, law-by-law registration system that existed earlier.

This reform aims to reduce compliance complexity while maintaining statutory worker protections.

What is “one central registration”?

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Under the new labor codes, employers are no longer required to obtain multiple registrations under individual labor laws or across different states. Instead, a single central registration enables compliance across applicable labor codes through a unified digital system.

This registration acts as the employer’s common compliance identity, covering obligations related to employment conditions, social security, and workforce engagement.

What the new system replaces

Previously, employers were required to:

• Register separately under laws such as the Factories Act, Contract Labor Act, EPF Act, ESI Act, and various state-specific labor laws.
• Deal with multiple authorities and separate portals; and
• Submit the same establishment details repeatedly for registrations, licenses, and returns.

For multi-state employers, this often resulted in duplicated filings, higher compliance costs, and administrative inefficiencies.

How one central registration works

Under the new framework, employers in India complete a single online registration through a centralized government portal. The registration applies across all relevant labor codes. To check out the official website, click here: registration.shramsuvidha.gov.in

Where applicable, the registration is valid across states, eliminating the need for state-wise duplication. Information submitted once can be reused for licenses, amendments, and statutory returns.

This central registration is complemented by:

1. A single all-India license, valid for five years, replacing multiple location- or activity-specific licenses; and
2. Unified returns, allowing employers to submit one consolidated compliance return instead of multiple law-wise filings.

Why this matters for employers

The one central registration framework delivers several tangible benefits:

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1. Reduced paperwork: No repeated submission of the same establishment and workforce details
2. Lower compliance costs: Fewer registrations, renewals, and filings
3. Faster compliance onboarding: New establishments can become operationally compliant more quickly
4. Greater transparency: A single registration ID simplifies inspections, audits, and compliance tracking
5. Ease for multi-state operations: Particularly beneficial for employers operating across multiple jurisdictions

Together, these changes allow management teams to focus more on core business operations and growth, rather than administrative formalities.

While the new system is unified, the underlying roles of employers and contractors remain distinct under labor law

The difference lies in how these requirements are now accessed and managed, through a single central registration and licensing framework, rather than multiple standalone processes.

What the compliance data shows

Data published on the Ministry of Labour and Employment website highlights the scale and fragmentation of employer compliance currently managed through the Shram Suvidha Portal. The volume of registrations and licenses required under multiple labor laws explains why India is moving toward a more streamlined and centralized compliance framework.

Employee social security registrations

• EPFO registrations: 680,242
• ESIC registrations: 759,538

Labor law establishment registrations

• CLRA registrations: 7,086
• BOCW registrations: 28,283
• ISMW registrations: 952

CLC-administered licensing (central labor laws)

• CLRA licenses: 139,828
• ISMW licenses: 7,724

These volumes underline why a centralized, single-registration approach is critical for scalable and efficient compliance.

The bigger picture

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The “one central registration” model reflects the broader objective of India’s labor law reforms: to make compliance simpler, more digital, and more predictable, particularly for growing and multi-state employers, while continuing to safeguard worker rights.

For corporates, this reform is not merely procedural—it represents a structural reduction in compliance friction, aligned with India’s push to improve ease of doing business.

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