Supervisory Employees earning above ₹18,000 Excluded from “Worker” Definition

Under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the definition of “worker” specifically excludes certain categories of employees, particularly those engaged in managerial or administrative roles and supervisory employees drawing wages above a prescribed threshold. As per the provisions of the Code, employees working in a supervisory capacity and earning wages exceeding ₹18,000 per month are excluded from the definition of “worker.” Consequently, such employees are not entitled to the protections and benefits that are specifically applicable to workers under the Industrial Relations framework, such as those relating to industrial disputes, retrenchment protection, and certain trade union rights. This exclusion is intended to distinguish managerial or higher supervisory staff from operational workers, recognising their role in management and decision-making within the organisation. Employees performing supervisory functions but earning ₹18,000 or below per month may still be treated as “workers”, provided their duties do not fall within managerial or administrative categories. Overall, this provision helps clarify the scope of applicability of labour protections under industrial relations laws and ensures that the term “worker” primarily covers employees engaged in operational and non-managerial roles.