The Code consolidates 13 existing labor laws into a single framework to simplify and modernize regulations related to workplace safety, health, and working conditions. It is one of four major labor codes passed in India in 2020.
Key objectives are to ensure safe working conditions for all workers - including in the unorganized sectors - , promote health and welfare of employees across sectors, and streamline compliance for employers by unifying multiple laws.
Full list of labor laws consolidated by the Code:
The PSCI is not a certification or compliance body but it offers tools to members that can used as part of your company’s due diligence processes.
Please note that this summary was drafted by the PSCI Secretariat. PSCI members and suppliers are advised to read the legislation in its entirety.
Anti-bribery & corruption
The following legislative provisions are included:
The provisions below are applicable to:
The provisions shall not apply to establishments in which work only of an intermittent or casual nature is performed, i.e. if it was performed for less than 120 days in the preceding 12 months or if it is of seasonal character and is performed for less than 60 days in a year.
(Code, Article 45)
No contractor to whom those requirements applies shall:
Please note that, where the contractor does not fulfil the requisite qualifications or criteria referred above, the relevant authority may issue a "work specific licence" electronically renewable within such period as may be prescribed by the Central Government to supply or engage the contract laborers, or execute the work through contract laborers, only for the concerned work order as may be specified in such licence and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such licence.
(Code, Article 47)
For more details on the procedure to follow to obtain or renew a licence, see Articles 47(3)(b) and 48
The contractor shall not charge directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fee or commission from the contract laborers.
(Code, Article 49)
(Code, Article 50)
Welfare facilities (see the relevant section on this page below for details) shall be provided by the principal employer of the establishment to the contract laborers who are employed in such establishment.
(Code, Article 53)
Where any principal employer of an establishment is employing contract laborers through a contractor who is required to obtain a licence, butthey have not obtained such licence, then, such employment shall be deemed to be in contravention of the provision of this Code.
(Code, Article 54)
(Code, Article 55)
Every concerned contractor shall issue, on demand, an experience certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government, to the contract laborer giving details of the work performed by such contract labour.
(Code, Article 56)
Employment of contract laborers in core activities of any establishment is prohibited, except if:
(Code, Article 57)
Please note that the requirements above do not apply to certain types of mining operations. See Article 68 for more details.
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Contract workers
The following legislative provisions are included:
The provisions below are applicable to:
The provisions shall not apply to establishments in which work only of an intermittent or casual nature is performed, i.e. if it was performed for less than 120 days in the preceding 12 months or if it is of seasonal character and is performed for less than 60 days in a year.
(Code, Article 45)
No contractor to whom those requirements applies shall:
Please note that, where the contractor does not fulfil the requisite qualifications or criteria referred above, the relevant authority may issue a "work specific licence" electronically renewable within such period as may be prescribed by the Central Government to supply or engage the contract laborers, or execute the work through contract laborers, only for the concerned work order as may be specified in such licence and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such licence.
(Code, Article 47)
For more details on the procedure to follow to obtain or renew a licence, see Articles 47(3)(b) and 48
The contractor shall not charge directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fee or commission from the contract laborers.
(Code, Article 49)
(Code, Article 50)
Welfare facilities (see the relevant section on this page below for details) shall be provided by the principal employer of the establishment to the contract laborers who are employed in such establishment.
(Code, Article 53)
Where any principal employer of an establishment is employing contract laborers through a contractor who is required to obtain a licence, butthey have not obtained such licence, then, such employment shall be deemed to be in contravention of the provision of this Code.
(Code, Article 54)
(Code, Article 55)
Every concerned contractor shall issue, on demand, an experience certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government, to the contract laborer giving details of the work performed by such contract labour.
(Code, Article 56)
Employment of contract laborers in core activities of any establishment is prohibited, except if:
(Code, Article 57)
Please note that the requirements above do not apply to certain types of mining operations. See Article 68 for more details.
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Occupational health & safety
The following legislative provisions are included:
The provisions below are applicable to:
The provisions shall not apply to establishments in which work only of an intermittent or casual nature is performed, i.e. if it was performed for less than 120 days in the preceding 12 months or if it is of seasonal character and is performed for less than 60 days in a year.
(Code, Article 45)
No contractor to whom those requirements applies shall:
Please note that, where the contractor does not fulfil the requisite qualifications or criteria referred above, the relevant authority may issue a "work specific licence" electronically renewable within such period as may be prescribed by the Central Government to supply or engage the contract laborers, or execute the work through contract laborers, only for the concerned work order as may be specified in such licence and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such licence.
(Code, Article 47)
For more details on the procedure to follow to obtain or renew a licence, see Articles 47(3)(b) and 48
The contractor shall not charge directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fee or commission from the contract laborers.
(Code, Article 49)
(Code, Article 50)
Welfare facilities (see the relevant section on this page below for details) shall be provided by the principal employer of the establishment to the contract laborers who are employed in such establishment.
(Code, Article 53)
Where any principal employer of an establishment is employing contract laborers through a contractor who is required to obtain a licence, butthey have not obtained such licence, then, such employment shall be deemed to be in contravention of the provision of this Code.
(Code, Article 54)
(Code, Article 55)
Every concerned contractor shall issue, on demand, an experience certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government, to the contract laborer giving details of the work performed by such contract labour.
(Code, Article 56)
Employment of contract laborers in core activities of any establishment is prohibited, except if:
(Code, Article 57)
Please note that the requirements above do not apply to certain types of mining operations. See Article 68 for more details.
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Handling of hazardous chemicals
The following legislative provisions are included:
The provisions below are applicable to:
The provisions shall not apply to establishments in which work only of an intermittent or casual nature is performed, i.e. if it was performed for less than 120 days in the preceding 12 months or if it is of seasonal character and is performed for less than 60 days in a year.
(Code, Article 45)
No contractor to whom those requirements applies shall:
Please note that, where the contractor does not fulfil the requisite qualifications or criteria referred above, the relevant authority may issue a "work specific licence" electronically renewable within such period as may be prescribed by the Central Government to supply or engage the contract laborers, or execute the work through contract laborers, only for the concerned work order as may be specified in such licence and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such licence.
(Code, Article 47)
For more details on the procedure to follow to obtain or renew a licence, see Articles 47(3)(b) and 48
The contractor shall not charge directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fee or commission from the contract laborers.
(Code, Article 49)
(Code, Article 50)
Welfare facilities (see the relevant section on this page below for details) shall be provided by the principal employer of the establishment to the contract laborers who are employed in such establishment.
(Code, Article 53)
Where any principal employer of an establishment is employing contract laborers through a contractor who is required to obtain a licence, butthey have not obtained such licence, then, such employment shall be deemed to be in contravention of the provision of this Code.
(Code, Article 54)
(Code, Article 55)
Every concerned contractor shall issue, on demand, an experience certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government, to the contract laborer giving details of the work performed by such contract labour.
(Code, Article 56)
Employment of contract laborers in core activities of any establishment is prohibited, except if:
(Code, Article 57)
Please note that the requirements above do not apply to certain types of mining operations. See Article 68 for more details.
Lorem ipsum.
Risk management
The following legislative provisions are included:
The provisions below are applicable to:
The provisions shall not apply to establishments in which work only of an intermittent or casual nature is performed, i.e. if it was performed for less than 120 days in the preceding 12 months or if it is of seasonal character and is performed for less than 60 days in a year.
(Code, Article 45)
No contractor to whom those requirements applies shall:
Please note that, where the contractor does not fulfil the requisite qualifications or criteria referred above, the relevant authority may issue a "work specific licence" electronically renewable within such period as may be prescribed by the Central Government to supply or engage the contract laborers, or execute the work through contract laborers, only for the concerned work order as may be specified in such licence and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such licence.
(Code, Article 47)
For more details on the procedure to follow to obtain or renew a licence, see Articles 47(3)(b) and 48
The contractor shall not charge directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fee or commission from the contract laborers.
(Code, Article 49)
(Code, Article 50)
Welfare facilities (see the relevant section on this page below for details) shall be provided by the principal employer of the establishment to the contract laborers who are employed in such establishment.
(Code, Article 53)
Where any principal employer of an establishment is employing contract laborers through a contractor who is required to obtain a licence, butthey have not obtained such licence, then, such employment shall be deemed to be in contravention of the provision of this Code.
(Code, Article 54)
(Code, Article 55)
Every concerned contractor shall issue, on demand, an experience certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government, to the contract laborer giving details of the work performed by such contract labour.
(Code, Article 56)
Employment of contract laborers in core activities of any establishment is prohibited, except if:
(Code, Article 57)
Please note that the requirements above do not apply to certain types of mining operations. See Article 68 for more details.
Lorem ipsum.
Cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment by security forces
The following legislative provisions are included:
The provisions below are applicable to:
The provisions shall not apply to establishments in which work only of an intermittent or casual nature is performed, i.e. if it was performed for less than 120 days in the preceding 12 months or if it is of seasonal character and is performed for less than 60 days in a year.
(Code, Article 45)
No contractor to whom those requirements applies shall:
Please note that, where the contractor does not fulfil the requisite qualifications or criteria referred above, the relevant authority may issue a "work specific licence" electronically renewable within such period as may be prescribed by the Central Government to supply or engage the contract laborers, or execute the work through contract laborers, only for the concerned work order as may be specified in such licence and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such licence.
(Code, Article 47)
For more details on the procedure to follow to obtain or renew a licence, see Articles 47(3)(b) and 48
The contractor shall not charge directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fee or commission from the contract laborers.
(Code, Article 49)
(Code, Article 50)
Welfare facilities (see the relevant section on this page below for details) shall be provided by the principal employer of the establishment to the contract laborers who are employed in such establishment.
(Code, Article 53)
Where any principal employer of an establishment is employing contract laborers through a contractor who is required to obtain a licence, butthey have not obtained such licence, then, such employment shall be deemed to be in contravention of the provision of this Code.
(Code, Article 54)
(Code, Article 55)
Every concerned contractor shall issue, on demand, an experience certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government, to the contract laborer giving details of the work performed by such contract labour.
(Code, Article 56)
Employment of contract laborers in core activities of any establishment is prohibited, except if:
(Code, Article 57)
Please note that the requirements above do not apply to certain types of mining operations. See Article 68 for more details.
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The Code applies to
Are excluded:
Establishments must be registered within 60 days of the commencement of the Code, electronically to the registering officers; additional licences may be needed for factories, mines, or operations with beedi and cigar workers.
Employers shall:
Owners and agents of mines shall make financial and other provisions and take such other steps as may be necessary for compliance with the provisions of this Code
Employees shall:
Every person who designs, manufactures, imports or supplies any article for use in any establishment shall:
Every person who erects or installs any article for use in a factory, shall ensure, so far as practicable, that such article so erected or installed does not make it unsafe or a risk to health when that article is used by the persons in such factory.
Other categories of individuals (e.g. architect, project engineer, designer) also have specific duties; please see the [Code](https://labour.gov.in/sites/default/files/osh_gazette.pdf) for further details.
A worker who shall be deemed to be employed in or
in connection with the work of an establishment when they are hired in or in connection with such work by or through a contractor, with or without the knowledge of the principal employer and includes inter-State migrant worker but does not include a worker (other than part time employee) who is regularly employed by the contractor for any activity of their establishment and their employment is governed by mutually accepted standards of the conditions of employment (including engagement on
permanent basis), and gets periodical increment in the pay, social security coverage and other welfare benefits in accordance with the law for the time being in force in such employment
A person (other than an apprentice engaged under the Apprentices Act, 1961) employed on wages by an establishment to do any skilled, semi-skilled, unskilled, manual, operational, supervisory, managerial, administrative, technical, clerical or any other work, whether the terms of employment be express or implied.
The definition of employee has been made consistent in all the new codes.
A person who employs, whether directly or through any
person, or on their behalf, or on behalf of any person, one or more employees in their establishment and who has ultimate control over the affairs of the establishment.
Any process or activity in relation to an industry or plantation where, unless special care is taken, raw materials used therein or the intermediate or finished products, bye-products, hazardous substances, wastes or effluents thereof or spraying of any pesticides, insecticides or chemicals used therein, as the case may be, would:
connected therewith, or
All remuneration whether by way of salaries, allowances or
otherwise, expressed in terms of money or capable of being so expressed which would, if the terms of employment, express or implied, were fulfilled, be payable to a person employed in respect of his employment or of work done in such employment, and includes basic pay, dearness allowance, and retaining allowance, if any, but does not include (with some exceptions):