The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, commonly known as the OSH Code 2020, is one of India’s four major Labour Codes. It consolidates and simplifies multiple Central labour laws dealing with workplace safety, health, welfare, working conditions, factories, contract labour, inter-State migrant workers, mines, construction activities and other occupational sectors.

The OSH Code came into force from 21 November 2025 as part of the implementation of India’s four Labour Codes.

For employers, HR teams, factories, contractors and compliance professionals, the Code is highly relevant because it introduces a more unified framework for registration, licences, workplace safety, welfare facilities, working hours, health examinations and worker protections.

What is the OSH Code 2020?

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 is a Central labour law intended to provide a consolidated framework for regulating occupational safety, health and working conditions across different establishments.

The Code aims to:

Improve workplace safety
Protect employee health
Standardise working conditions
Simplify establishment registration
Rationalise licensing requirements
Improve contractor compliance
Protect inter-State migrant workers
Enhance welfare facilities
Promote digital compliance
Reduce overlapping statutory requirements

The Government has stated that the Code replaces 13 Central labour laws with one comprehensive legislation.

OSH Code 2020 Effective Date

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 became effective from:

21 November 2025

The Government implemented all four Labour Codes from this date.

Employers should also monitor applicable Central and State rules, notifications and occupational safety standards, because several operational requirements depend on the appropriate Government and the type of establishment.

Laws Consolidated Under the OSH Code 2020

The OSH Code consolidates 13 Central labour laws relating to occupational safety and working conditions.

These include laws covering:

Factories
Mines
Dock workers
Building and construction workers
Plantations
Contract labour
Inter-State migrant workers
Motor transport workers
Working journalists
Sales promotion employees
Beedi and cigar workers
Cine workers
Other specified occupational categories

The purpose is to replace multiple overlapping compliance systems with a more integrated framework.

Key Features of the OSH Code 2020

1. Workplace Safety and Health

One of the primary objectives of the OSH Code is to ensure that establishments maintain safe and healthy working conditions.

Employers may be required to implement appropriate measures relating to:

Workplace cleanliness
Ventilation
Temperature
Lighting
Drinking water
Sanitation
Machinery safety
Hazardous substances
Personal protective equipment
Emergency procedures
Fire safety
Occupational health
Accident prevention

Employers should regularly review workplace risks and ensure that safety controls are documented and implemented.

2. Employer Duties Under the OSH Code

Employers have a general responsibility to provide a workplace that is free from recognised hazards that may cause injury or occupational disease.

Important employer responsibilities can include:

Providing safe working conditions
Maintaining safe plant and machinery
Providing necessary protective equipment
Conducting safety training
Providing health examinations where required
Reporting prescribed accidents
Maintaining statutory records
Following occupational safety standards

Safety compliance should be treated as an ongoing management responsibility rather than only an inspection requirement.

3. Appointment Letters

The Labour Code framework introduces an important formalisation requirement through appointment letters.

The Government has highlighted appointment letters as a statutory protection for workers under the new Labour Codes.

Appointment letters help document:

Employee name
Designation
Employment category
Wage details
Date of joining
Working conditions
Employer details

For employers, maintaining proper appointment documentation improves both compliance and employee-record accuracy.

4. Annual Health Examination

The OSH Code framework strengthens occupational health protections.

The Government has highlighted provisions for free annual health check-ups for eligible workers under the new Labour Code framework.

Depending on the establishment and applicable rules, employers should maintain:

Employee health-check records
Medical examination reports
Occupational-health registers
Fitness certificates
Follow-up recommendations

5. Safety Committee

Applicable establishments may be required to constitute a Safety Committee.

A Safety Committee can include representatives of:

Employer
Management
Workers
Safety department

The committee can review:

Workplace hazards
Accidents
Unsafe conditions
Safety complaints
Preventive measures
Training requirements
Emergency preparedness

Maintaining minutes and action records can help demonstrate effective workplace safety governance.

6. Safety Officers

Certain establishments, depending on workforce strength and nature of operations, may be required to appoint qualified Safety Officers.

Safety Officers generally help with:

Hazard identification
Safety inspections
Accident investigation
Safety training
PPE compliance
Corrective actions
Statutory reporting

Employers should verify whether applicable Central or State rules prescribe a mandatory safety-officer requirement.

7. Working Hours

The Code establishes a framework for regulating working hours.

Employers must ensure that employees do not work beyond prescribed limits except in accordance with statutory provisions.

Working-hour compliance can involve:

Daily working hours
Weekly limits
Rest intervals
Weekly holidays
Shift scheduling
Overtime
Spread-over limits

Attendance systems should therefore accurately capture actual working time.

8. Overtime

Where workers perform work beyond normal statutory working hours, they may become eligible for overtime wages according to applicable provisions.

Employers should maintain accurate:

IN and OUT timings
Shift records
Attendance
Overtime hours
Overtime approvals
Overtime wage calculations

Incorrect attendance records can directly affect overtime compliance.

9. Weekly Holidays

Workers are entitled to rest periods and weekly holidays in accordance with the applicable rules.

Employers should ensure that:

Weekly-off schedules are maintained
Substitute holidays are documented where applicable
Continuous-work arrangements comply with statutory requirements
Attendance records match weekly-off schedules

10. Welfare Facilities

Applicable establishments may need to provide various welfare facilities based on workforce strength and industry.

These may include:

Washing facilities
Drinking water
Toilets
Canteen
First-aid facilities
Rest rooms
Crèche
Seating arrangements
Welfare officers
Other prescribed facilities

The exact requirements depend on the establishment category and applicable rules.

11. Women Working in All Establishments

A significant feature of the Labour Code framework is increased participation of women across industries.

The Government has highlighted expanded opportunities for women to work in all sectors, including night shifts, subject to consent and prescribed safety conditions.

Employers should ensure appropriate safeguards relating to:

Consent
Transportation
Security
Lighting
Rest facilities
Workplace supervision
Other prescribed safety arrangements

12. Contract Labour

The OSH Code also governs contract labour.

Principal employers and contractors should maintain proper compliance relating to:

Contractor licences
Worker details
Attendance
Wage payments
Statutory benefits
Employment records
Safety requirements
Welfare facilities

Principal employers should maintain visibility over contractor compliance rather than relying entirely on contractor declarations.

13. Inter-State Migrant Workers

The Code provides protections for inter-State migrant workers.

These provisions aim to improve worker identification, welfare and portability of certain benefits.

Employers engaging migrant workers should maintain accurate information regarding:

Employee origin
Current employment location
Contractor details
Wages
Journey-related benefits where applicable
Welfare entitlements
Registration information

14. Single Registration

One of the compliance-simplification measures under the OSH Code is movement toward single registration.

Instead of maintaining multiple registrations under separate laws, establishments can benefit from a consolidated registration framework where applicable.

The Government has identified single registration as one of the Code’s key compliance-simplification measures.

15. Common / All-India Licence

The OSH framework also introduces simplified licensing, including an all-India licence concept in relevant areas.

This can help businesses operating across multiple States reduce duplicated licensing processes for applicable activities.

16. Electronic Compliance

The OSH Code encourages technology-based compliance.

Employers may increasingly manage:

Registration
Licensing
Returns
Notices
Records
Applications
Renewals

through electronic systems.

The Government has specifically highlighted electronic filings and time-bound approvals as important simplification measures.

17. Contract Labour Licence Management

Contractors should carefully manage licence applicability and validity.

Important compliance points include:

Licence number
Effective date
Expiry date
Worker limit
Establishment details
Principal employer information
Renewal requirements
Amendments
Applicable State or Central rules

Expired or incorrect licences can create compliance risks for both contractors and principal employers.

18. Accident Reporting

Applicable workplace accidents must be reported to the prescribed authorities within statutory timelines.

Employers should maintain:

Accident date and time
Employee details
Location
Nature of injury
Cause of accident
Medical treatment
Investigation findings
Corrective actions
Statutory reporting proof

Serious incidents should also trigger internal root-cause analysis.

19. Dangerous Occurrences

Certain incidents may require statutory reporting even if they do not result in immediate injury.

Examples can include major equipment failures, explosions, structural failures or other prescribed dangerous occurrences.

Employers should therefore maintain an incident-reporting process that covers both injuries and serious near-miss events.

20. Occupational Diseases

Employers should identify and report occupational diseases where prescribed.

This is particularly relevant in industries involving:

Chemicals
Dust
Mining
Heavy metals
Hazardous substances
Manufacturing processes
High-noise environments

Periodic health surveillance can help identify occupational risks early.

OSH Compliance for Factories

Factories represent one of the most important establishment categories under the OSH Code.

Factory compliance can involve:

Registration
Licence requirements
Occupier and manager details
Working hours
Safety measures
Machine guarding
Emergency plans
Welfare facilities
Health examinations
Safety committees
Safety officers
Accident reporting
Statutory registers

Factory management should integrate compliance with day-to-day production and safety operations.

OSH Compliance for Construction Projects

Construction projects involve significant occupational safety risks.

Employers and contractors should monitor:

Worker registration
PPE
Working-at-height safety
Scaffolding
Electrical safety
Excavation safety
Lifting equipment
First aid
Emergency plans
Site access
Contractor documentation

Safety documentation should be maintained throughout the project lifecycle.

OSH Compliance for Contractors

Contractors should maintain a complete compliance trail covering:

Licence
Worker deployment
Attendance
Wage records
Appointment letters
Statutory benefits
PPE
Safety training
Medical examinations
Accident records
Registers and returns

Principal employers should regularly verify these records.

Employer Compliance Checklist Under the OSH Code

Employers can use the following checklist:

Determine OSH Code applicability
Identify the appropriate Government
Verify establishment registration
Verify licence requirements
Monitor licence validity
Issue appointment letters
Maintain employee records
Maintain contractor records
Verify working hours
Maintain IN and OUT attendance
Calculate overtime correctly
Provide weekly holidays
Conduct health examinations where applicable
Maintain Safety Committee records
Appoint Safety Officers where applicable
Provide required PPE
Conduct safety training
Maintain first-aid facilities
Provide statutory welfare facilities
Monitor women-worker safety requirements
Maintain inter-State migrant worker records
Report accidents
Report occupational diseases
Record dangerous occurrences
Maintain statutory registers
Monitor Central and State notifications

Importance of OSH Compliance for Employers

Poor workplace-safety compliance can lead to:

Worker injuries
Occupational diseases
Fatal accidents
Production interruption
Regulatory action
Compensation claims
Litigation
Reputation damage
Licence-related issues
Increased operational risk

A structured OSH compliance system helps organisations identify risks before they become serious incidents.

Impact of the OSH Code on HR and Compliance Teams

The Code requires greater coordination between:

HR
Compliance
EHS / Safety
Factory management
Contractors
Payroll
Operations

HR teams need accurate employment and working-hour records, while safety teams must maintain risk and incident documentation.

Compliance teams should bring these records together to create an organisation-wide compliance trail.

How FACILE Can Help With OSH Compliance

FACILE ONE can help organisations manage workplace safety and labour-law compliance through a centralised compliance framework.

Businesses can use FACILE to support:

Factory compliance monitoring
Establishment compliance
Contractor compliance
Licence management
Statutory document management
Compliance calendar
Due-date monitoring
Worker records
Compliance observations
Multi-location compliance
Audit tracking
Compliance dashboards and reports

This is particularly useful for organisations managing multiple factories, establishments, contractors and locations across India.

Why FACILE ONE?

OSH compliance involves numerous registrations, licences, inspections, records, documents and deadlines.

FACILE ONE helps organisations bring these requirements into one structured system.

Key capabilities include:

Centralised statutory compliance
Factory compliance tracking
Contractor compliance monitoring
Licence management
Compliance calendar
Document management
Audit observations
Compliance-risk monitoring
Multi-state visibility
Compliance dashboards
Reports and audit trails

Stay Connected. Stay Compliant.

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 represents one of the most significant reforms to India’s workplace-safety and working-condition framework.

With the Code effective from 21 November 2025, organisations should review workplace safety, factory compliance, contractor management, employee health, working hours, appointment letters, welfare facilities and licensing procedures.

Businesses operating across multiple States should also continuously monitor Central and State rules, Gazette notifications and occupational safety standards applicable to their establishments.

Frequently Asked Questions – OSH Code 2020

1. What is the OSH Code 2020?

The OSH Code 2020 is the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, a Central labour law governing workplace safety, health, welfare and working conditions.

2. When did the OSH Code 2020 come into force?

The OSH Code came into force from 21 November 2025.

3. How many labour laws are consolidated under the OSH Code?

The Code consolidates 13 Central labour laws relating to occupational safety, health and working conditions.

4. Does the OSH Code apply to factories?

Yes. Factory safety, health, welfare and working conditions form an important part of the Code.

5. Does the OSH Code cover contract labour?

Yes. The Code contains provisions regulating contract labour and contractor licensing.

6. Are inter-State migrant workers covered?

Yes. The Code contains specific provisions relating to inter-State migrant workers.

7. Are appointment letters mandatory under the Labour Code framework?

The Government has highlighted appointment letters as an important formalisation measure under the new Labour Codes.

8. Does the OSH Code provide for annual health examinations?

Yes. The Labour Code framework includes occupational-health protections, and the Government has highlighted free annual health check-ups for eligible workers.

9. Can women work night shifts under the OSH Code?

Women can work in sectors and shifts permitted under the Code and applicable rules, including night work subject to consent and prescribed safety conditions.

10. What is a Safety Committee?

A Safety Committee is a workplace committee constituted in applicable establishments to review occupational safety and health matters.

11. Is a Safety Officer mandatory?

Safety Officers may be mandatory for specified establishments based on workforce strength, industry and applicable rules.

12. Does the OSH Code regulate working hours?

Yes. The Code provides a framework for working hours, rest intervals, weekly holidays and overtime.

13. Is overtime covered under the OSH Code?

Yes. Employers must comply with applicable overtime requirements when workers work beyond prescribed working hours.

14. Does the Code provide for single registration?

Yes. Simplified registration is one of the major compliance reforms highlighted under the OSH Code.

15. Does the OSH Code provide for an all-India licence?

The Code provides mechanisms for simplified and common licensing in applicable areas, including all-India licensing concepts.

16. Are accidents required to be reported?

Applicable accidents and dangerous occurrences must be reported in accordance with the Code and prescribed rules.

17. Does OSH compliance apply to construction sites?

Yes. Building and construction worker safety and working conditions are included within the OSH framework.

18. Are contractors responsible for worker safety?

Contractors have responsibilities relating to their workers, while principal employers may also have statutory responsibilities depending on the applicable provisions.

19. Are Central and State rules relevant?

Yes. Employers should identify the appropriate Government and monitor applicable Central or State rules and notifications.

Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code 2020: Complete Guide for Employers and Workers in India