The Ladakh Administration has notified the Industrial Relations (Ladakh) Rules, 2026 through S.O. 223 dated 20 July 2026, published in the Ladakh Gazette Extraordinary on 4 August 2026 and in force from that same date. The Rules replace three Jammu and Kashmir era laws on trade unions, standing orders, and industrial disputes, and were finalised without a single change since zero objections came in during the 45 day consultation window on the draft (S.O. 178, 24 April 2026).

Key highlights

Supersedes the J&K Trade Union Regulations 1972, Industrial Employment Standing Orders Rules 1972, and Industrial Disputes Rules 1972.
Spans 13 chapters, 62 rules, and 16 forms covering the full dispute resolution cycle.
Works Committees capped at 20 members with worker representation never below management representation.
Grievance Redressal Committees capped at 10 members with equal representation and a guaranteed share for women workers.
Workers get one year to raise a grievance and 60 days to escalate an unresolved one to the Conciliation Officer.
Trade union recognition needs 30 percent membership as sole union, 51 percent where multiple unions exist, or a Negotiating Council below that.
Standing Orders chapter applies only to establishments with 500 or more workers.
Strike and lock out notices need signatures from the President or General Secretary plus five elected worker representatives.
Retrenched workers get one year of rehire preference, and employers must fund 15 days of wages into the Worker Re Skilling Fund within 10 days.
First time offences can be compounded within a 15 day payment window, keeping minor defaults out of prosecution.
Nearly all filings and notices under these Rules can be done electronically.
Completes Ladakh's final Labour Code trio alongside the Wages Rules (S.O. 231) and Social Security Rules (S.O. 224), with only OSH Rules still pending.

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Industrial Relations Ladakh Rules 2026 S.O. 223 Gazette Notification