Code Shift: National Conclave on Navigating the Labour Codes 2026
The Code Shift Labour Codes Conclave 2026 offers a national platform to discuss India’s changing labour law framework. The Centre for Financial & Regulatory Governance Studies (CFRGS) at WBNUJS, Kolkata, is organising the two-day conclave on 12–13 September 2026.
The conclave welcomes research contributions from students, academicians, lawyers, researchers, policymakers and industry professionals. In particular, contributors can explore the Labour Codes from legal, regulatory, policy and practical perspectives.
About the Conclave
The Centre for Financial & Regulatory Governance Studies (CFRGS) at WBNUJS began its work in 2015. The Centre focuses on contemporary financial, regulatory and public policy issues. It also encourages interaction between academics, practitioners and students.
Against this background, CFRGS is organising Code Shift: A National Conclave on Navigating the Labour Codes. The event will examine India’s transition from 29 central labour laws to four comprehensive Labour Codes.
Moreover, the conclave will bring together judges, senior advocates, regulators, labour commissioners, corporate leaders, tax professionals, academicians and industry experts. They will discuss the legal and practical challenges that may arise from the implementation of the new framework.
The organisers also plan to compile selected research contributions into a White Paper. The White Paper will provide a reference for legislators, regulators and industry stakeholders.
Theme and Sub-Themes
The central theme of the conclave is:
“Navigating India’s New Labour Codes: Law, Regulation, and Practice.”
Participants can submit papers on the following indicative sub-themes:
- Code on Wages
- Code on Industrial Relations
- Code on Social Security
- Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code
- Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Labour
- Interplay of Labour with Contract and Taxation Law
However, these topics do not limit the scope of submissions. The organisers also welcome interdisciplinary research that connects with the broader objectives of the conclave.
Therefore, contributors can examine labour law through different perspectives, including technology, taxation, corporate governance, regulation and public policy.
Submission Guidelines and Fees
The Code Shift Labour Codes Conclave 2026 invites contributions from a wide range of participants. Academicians, legal practitioners, research scholars, undergraduate and postgraduate students, HR and compliance professionals, policymakers, regulators and industry stakeholders can submit their work.
The submission process begins with an abstract. Contributors must submit an abstract of their proposed paper, with a maximum limit of 1,000 words.
If the organisers select the abstract, the author can proceed with the full paper. The full paper should contain 4,000–5,000 words, excluding footnotes. The organisers will also screen full papers through Turnitin.
Each paper can have one co-author. Therefore, a maximum of two authors can submit one paper.
In addition, contributors must follow the NUJS Citation Standard. The organisers will consider only original and unpublished submissions.
There is no separate processing fee for abstract submission. However, selected authors must pay a presentation fee when they present their papers:
- Online Presentation: ₹3,500 per author
- Offline Presentation: ₹2,500 per author
Thus, contributors do not need to pay a fee merely to submit an abstract. The applicable fee comes into play after selection for presentation.
Important Dates and How to Submit
The abstract submission deadline is 7 September 2026. So, interested contributors should complete the first stage of the process before this date.
The organisers will hold the conclave on 12–13 September 2026. Selected authors can present their papers either online or offline, depending on their preference.
After the conclave, authors must submit their full papers by 31 October 2026.
The organisers will also provide a Certificate of Presentation and Participation to presenters. Furthermore, the two best selected papers may receive an opportunity for publication in the NUJS Law Review, subject to its publication standards. CFRGS may also publish other meritorious papers that meet its requirements.
How to Submit
Interested contributors can submit their abstracts through the designated Google Form:
Submit Your Abstract for Code Shift 2026
For queries, contributors can contact CFRGS at cfrgs@nujs.edu. They can also contact:
- Prof. Vaneeta Patnaik: +91 98744 11183
- Prof. Dr. Sanjay Kumar: +91 94770 91658
Overall, this call for papers provides a useful research opportunity for students and professionals interested in labour law, public policy, taxation, corporate governance and regulatory studies.
