Govt Delegates Power to Appoint Verification Officers Under Industrial Relations Code

Notification S.O. 2996(E), Dated: 11.06.2026

The Central Government has delegated its powers under sub-rule (3) of Rule 9 of the Industrial Relations (Central) Rules, 2026 to officers of the rank of Joint Secretary handling Industrial Relations matters in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Pursuant to this delegation, such officers are authorised to appoint verification officers for determining the representative status of trade unions in establishments where the Central Government is the appropriate government under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.

1. Role of Verification Officers

Verification officers play a key role in the recognition of:

A Negotiating Union; or
A Negotiating Council

under Section 14 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.

These officers are responsible for:

Verifying trade union membership;
Conducting related verification procedures; and
Determining the level of support enjoyed by competing trade unions among workers.

2. Basis for Recognition of Trade Unions

The verification process serves as the foundation for identifying:

The trade union is entitled to be recognised as the sole negotiating union; or
The trade unions eligible to form a negotiating council where multiple unions satisfy the prescribed criteria.

The outcome of the verification exercise directly impacts the collective bargaining framework within an industrial establishment.

3. Power Delegated to Joint Secretaries

Under the notification, Joint Secretaries dealing with Industrial Relations matters in the Ministry of Labour and Employment are now empowered to appoint verification officers without requiring separate approval from the Central Government.

The delegation is expected to facilitate faster administrative decision-making and reduce procedural delays.

4. Objective of the Delegation

The Government has delegated this power to:

Streamline the recognition process for negotiating unions and councils;
Expedite verification of trade union representation;
Ensure timely implementation of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020;
Promote effective collective bargaining; and
Strengthen employer–employee dialogue in centrally governed establishments.

5. Expected Impact

The measure is expected to improve the efficiency of the trade union recognition process by enabling quicker appointment of verification officers and timely determination of representative unions. This, in turn, will support the collective bargaining framework envisaged under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 and contribute to stronger industrial relations in establishments under the Central Government’s jurisdiction.