Overview The Congress government in Karnataka is planning to convene a conclave of Labour Ministers from Southern States in January to discuss and formulate a response to the four Labour Codes recently notified by the Centre. This move comes as the state grapples with pending minimum wage revisions and expresses concerns over the implications of the new codes. Key Developments Labour Ministers' Conclave Objective: To discuss and formulate a unified response to the four Labour Codes. Participants: Labour Ministers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are expected to participate. Initiation: The Kerala Labour Minister has already written to the Karnataka government regarding the Labour Code issue. Concerns Regarding Labour Codes Objections: The Karnataka government, through Labour Minister Santhosh Lad , is expected to raise objections to the Centre, terming the codes as “a bunch of contradiction besides being anti-labour”. Impact on Employment: Concerns are raised that the codes will discourage permanent employment in the industrial sector. Minimum Wages Revision Pending Revision: The crucial minimum wages revision in Karnataka , pending from 2022-23 , is currently in limbo. Proposed Wages: The draft, notified in April 2025 , proposed a revision of minimum wages in the range of ₹19,000 to about ₹31,000 , depending on skills and location. Opposition: The proposed wages, drafted based on the Supreme Court's guidelines in the Raptakos Brett case , have been opposed by employers. Objections Received: The government has received over 40,000 objections against the proposed minimum wages. The Four Labour Codes The four Labour Codes, notified on November 21, 2025 , are: The Code on Wages, 2019 The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 The Code on Social Security, 2020 The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 These codes will replace 29 existing labour legislations in the country. Challenges and Delays Uniform Wages: Questions are being raised about the Centre's authority to outline uniform wages or decide on minimum wages in States, given that Labour is a concurrent subject. Meeting Postponement: A meeting with the Chief Minister regarding the minimum wages issue was postponed due to leadership tussles. UPSC Relevance This news is relevant to GS2 (Government Policies & Interventions) and GS3 (Economy) . The Labour Codes and minimum wage issues are important topics for understanding labour reforms and their impact on the Indian economy and workforce. Important Facts The four Labour Codes aim to consolidate and simplify existing labour laws. Minimum wage revision is a critical aspect of ensuring fair compensation for workers. Labour being a concurrent subject implies shared legislative powers between the Centre and States.