From Human Managers to Algorithms: Reimagining Labour Law for the AI Economy in India

This research paper undertakes a comprehensive doctrinal and comparative analysis of the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in employment, focusing on the legal challenges posed by algorithmic management in India. As workplaces transition from traditional human-led hierarchies to automated, data-driven systems, existing labour protections face unprecedented conceptual and practical strain. This paper examines the constitutional dimensions of AI deployment particularly concerning equality, privacy, and natural justice and scrutinizes the adequacy of India's newly consolidated Labour Codes and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Highlighting severe doctrinal gaps such as the accountability vacuum, automated dismissals, and pervasive surveillance, the paper draws on comparative lessons from the European Union and the International Labour Organization. Ultimately proposing a normative framework for a rights-based AI governance model in India that balances technological innovation with the fundamental rights of workers.