THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BARBIL, FEBRUARY 16, 2026
In a proactive step towards strengthening workplace compliance and
employee awareness, JSW Steel’s Odisha Mining Division organised a
comprehensive Labour Codes Awareness Session at its Narayanposhi Iron and
Manganese Ore Mines. The initiative was aimed at enhancing workers’
understanding of India’s newly unified labour framework and its practical
implications across mining operations.
The programme saw the participation of around 250 employees, including
members of both the direct and indirect workforce, reflecting the company’s
continued focus on building an informed and empowered work environment. The
strong turnout underscored the growing interest among employees in
understanding their rights, benefits, and responsibilities under the revised
regulatory structure.
Senior officials from the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS),
Bhubaneswar Region-2, led the technical sessions and interacted with employees.
Among those who addressed the gathering were Nasina Balasubrahmaniam
(DMS–Mining), K. Maheswara Reddy (DMS–Electrical), Shankarsan Behera
(DMS–Mechanical), and Ulimela Siva Sankara (DDMS–Mining), who elaborated on
compliance requirements and sector-specific safety and welfare provisions.
The DGMS experts provided a detailed overview of the four new Labour
Codes, which consolidate 29 existing labour laws into a simplified and
integrated framework designed to improve ease of compliance while strengthening
worker protections. Their presentations focused on both statutory provisions
and their real-world application in mining workplaces.
Ram Shankar Sharma, Operations and Project Head of JSW Steel’s Odisha
Mining Division, Tapan Rath, Mines Manager of Narayanposhi, along with other
senior officials, were present during the session and reiterated the company’s
commitment to aligning operational practices with national labour reforms.
The discussions covered a wide range of critical provisions under the
amended labour codes, including women’s employment, prevention of gender
discrimination, maternity benefits, equal pay for equal work, defined working
hours, occupational health coverage, and the enabling provisions for women to
work in night shifts with appropriate safeguards. The session also highlighted
the expanded definition of family for social security benefits, along with
updated norms relating to gratuity and insurance coverage.
JSW Steel officials actively facilitated the learning process by helping employees interpret the legal provisions in a practical, workplace-oriented manner. Informational pamphlets were distributed to all participants to reinforce key takeaways and serve as ready reference material for future use.
The awareness drive reflects JSW Steel’s broader emphasis on regulatory compliance, transparency, and safe, inclusive working conditions. By bridging the knowledge gap on labour reforms at the grassroots level, the company aims to foster a culture of informed participation and strengthen its commitment to responsible and sustainable mining practices in Odisha.
