Display Labels item in sidebar when Issues are disabled

app/views/layouts/nav/sidebar/_project.html.haml

@@ -144,8 +144,16 @@
                 %strong.fly-out-top-item-name
                   = issue_tracker.title
 
+      - if (project_nav_tab? :labels) && !@project.issues_enabled?
+        = nav_link(controller: [:labels]) do
+          = link_to project_labels_path(@project), title: _('Labels'), class: 'shortcuts-labels qa-labels-items' do
+            .nav-icon-container
+              = sprite_icon('label')
+            %span.nav-item-name#js-onboarding-labels-link
+              = _('Labels')
+
       - if project_nav_tab? :merge_requests
-        = nav_link(controller: @project.issues_enabled? ? :merge_requests : [:merge_requests, :labels, :milestones]) do
+        = nav_link(controller: @project.issues_enabled? ? :merge_requests : [:merge_requests, :milestones]) do
           = link_to project_merge_requests_path(@project), class: 'shortcuts-merge_requests', data: { qa_selector: 'merge_requests_link' } do
             .nav-icon-container
               = sprite_icon('git-merge')

changelogs/unreleased/20298-labels-management-is-not-accessible-when-issues-are-disabled.yml

+---
+title: Display Labels item in sidebar when Issues are disabled
+merge_request: 20817
+author:
+type: fixed

spec/features/projects/features_visibility_spec.rb

@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ describe 'Edit Project Settings' do
     end
 
     context 'When external issue tracker is enabled and issues enabled on project settings' do
-      it 'does not hide issues tab' do
+      it 'does not hide issues tab and hides labels tab' do
         allow_next_instance_of(Project) do |instance|
           allow(instance).to receive(:external_issue_tracker).and_return(JiraService.new)
         end
@@ -49,11 +49,12 @@ describe 'Edit Project Settings' do
         visit project_path(project)
 
         expect(page).to have_selector('.shortcuts-issues')
+        expect(page).not_to have_selector('.shortcuts-labels')
       end
     end
 
     context 'When external issue tracker is enabled and issues disabled on project settings' do
-      it 'hides issues tab' do
+      it 'hides issues tab and show labels tab' do
         project.issues_enabled = false
         project.save!
         allow_next_instance_of(Project) do |instance|
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ describe 'Edit Project Settings' do
         visit project_path(project)
 
         expect(page).not_to have_selector('.shortcuts-issues')
+        expect(page).to have_selector('.shortcuts-labels')
       end
     end