Goa notifies the Industrial Relations (Goa) Rules, 2026 (gazetted 12 November)
TaxByKK · Compliance News · taxbykk.com26 Oct 2026
In short
The Goa Department of Labour has made the Industrial Relations (Goa) Rules, 2026 under section 99 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (notification 24/19/2021/LAB/VOL-I/489 dated 26 October 2026, published in the Official Gazette, Series I No. 33, Supplement 2, on 12 November 2026). They come into force on publication in the Gazette. The draft had been pre-published on 30 April 2026 and the objections were considered. The rules cover settlements, works and grievance committees, trade unions, standing orders, arbitration, tribunals, strikes and lock-outs, lay-off and retrenchment, the worker re-skilling fund, compounding and protected workers.
- Authority
- Government of Goa, Department of Labour
- Notification
- 24/19/2021/LAB/VOL-I/489 dated 26 October 2026
- Gazette
- Official Gazette, Series I No. 33, Supplement 2, 12 November 2026
- Made under
- Section 99 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020
- Effective from
- Date of publication in the Official Gazette
- Applies to
- Industrial establishments and matters for which the Government of Goa is the appropriate Government
- Forms
- Set out in the schedule, for example Form XXVII strike notice, Form XXVIII lock-out notice, Form XXIX retrenchment notice, Form XXXI compounding
What changed
| Item | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Works Committee (rule 4) | - | Not more than 20 members; worker representatives not fewer than the employer's; women represented at least in proportion to their share of the workforce |
| Grievance Committee (rules 5 to 7) | - | For establishments with 20 or more workers; equal employer and worker members, up to 10, three-year term; application within one year of the cause of action; if unresolved in 30 days, or the worker is aggrieved, application to the conciliation officer within 60 days |
| Strike notice (rule 44) | - | Notice in Form XXVII signed by the union's President or General Secretary (or five elected representatives); an employer receiving a strike notice informs the conciliation officer and Commissioner within five days |
| Lock-out notice (rule 45) | - | Form XXVIII to the unions with copies to the conciliation officer, Commissioner and State Government; displayed on the notice board; employer reports within five days |
| Retrenchment notice (rule 46) | - | Form XXIX to the State Government, Commissioner and conciliation officer within three days of the notice or of paying wages in lieu; one month before the date where an agreement fixes the termination date |
| Re-skilling fund (rule 55) | - | Employer transfers 15 days of last drawn wages per retrenched worker to the State account within ten days; the State credits the worker within 45 days of receipt |
| Compounding (rule 56) | - | Accused applies electronically and deposits the amount within fifteen days of the notice (Form XXXI) |
| Protected workers (rule 57) | - | Unions give the employer names of officers before 30 April every year; employer recognises protected workers within fifteen days, for twelve months |
The headline rules above were read in full for this story; the rules on trade-union registration and audit, standing orders, arbitration, tribunal procedure and review are in the Official PDF. The same gazette also carries the Goa Social Security Rules, 2026 (separate story). The document does not say which earlier Goa industrial relations rules it replaces.
Who it applies to
- Employers with industrial establishments in Goa
- Registered trade unions and workers' representatives
- HR teams, labour law advisers, CAs, CSs and lawyers
What to do
- Constitute or refresh the Works Committee and the Grievance Committee as the rules require.
- Prepare Form XXVII, XXVIII and XXIX workflows with the three-day and five-day reporting steps.
- Set up the 15-day wage transfer for retrenchment cases.
- Unions should diarise 30 April for the protected-worker list.
Reference
Government of Goa, Department of Labour, Notification No. 24/19/2021/LAB/VOL-I/489 dated 26 October 2026, Industrial Relations (Goa) Rules, 2026, Official Gazette Series I No. 33, Supplement 2, 12 November 2026.
Issued by Goa
Read the official PDF: Goa Gazette 12 Nov 2026Written by TaxByKK from the official notification. Check the official text before you act on it.
Frequently asked questions
When do the rules take effect?
On publication in the Official Gazette, 12 November 2026.
Who needs a Grievance Committee?
An industrial establishment with twenty or more workers.
How soon must retrenchment be notified?
Within three days of serving notice or paying wages in lieu, in Form XXIX.
What goes into the State account on retrenchment?
Fifteen days of last drawn wages for each retrenched worker, within ten days.