MoLEverified 2026-06-14in-force

Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code 2020

Issued: 2020-01-01
Effective: 2020-04-01

Applies to

Establishments with ≥10 workers (general registration), all factories, mines, docks, plantations, building/construction sites and contractors engaging ≥20 workers. The Code redefines a 'factory' as ≥20 workers with power or ≥40 without (raised from 10/20 under the Factories Act). In force from 21 November 2025; the OSH (Central) Rules 2026 were notified on 8 May 2026, but day-to-day licensing runs on state rules, which are being notified state by state.

Key points

Factory threshold raised to ≥20 workers with power / ≥40 without (from 10/20 under the Factories Act 1948).
Single electronic registration per establishment and an all-India / multi-state contractor licence replace multiple older registrations.
Mandatory appointment letter to every employee, including contract labour (Section 6); format prescribed by the 2026 Central Rules.
Repeals and subsumes 13 Acts (Factories, Mines, Contract Labour, BOCW, Inter-State Migrant Workmen, Dock Workers, Plantations and others) from 21 Nov 2025; DGMS continues as the mines regulator under the Code.
Women permitted in all establishments and in night shifts (7 pm–6 am) with written consent and employer-provided safety, transport and security.
Free annual health examination for specified hazardous categories (e.g. building/construction and dock workers aged 40+).

Applicability triggers

Factory: ≥20 workers with power, or ≥40 without
Any establishment with ≥10 workers (general registration)
Contractor engaging ≥20 workers
Mine, dock, plantation or building / construction work

Practitioner questions

Sources

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