The Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill, 2019 (“Bill”) has been approved by the Union Cabinet on July 10, 2019. The Bill was introduced by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on March 23, 2018, proposing to simplify, amalgamate and rationalize 13 labour laws relating to safety and health standards, working conditions, welfare provisions, leave and hours of work etc.

The Bill intends to merge 13 central labour laws into a single code and the enactments covered thereunder include the Factories Act, 1948, the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, the Mines Act, 1952, the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1976, etc.

The Bill requires the employers to ensure that the workplace is free of hazards and that they comply with the prescribed safety and health standards. The Bill also requires the provision of welfare facilities, maintenance of registers and records, possession of valid licenses and approvals for the use of industrial premises, maintenance of healthy, hygienic, clean working environment with adequate lighting, facilities for drinking water, etc.