Code 4 of 4 · 2020

OSH Code 2020

OSH and Working Conditions Code 2020 Explained

Consolidates 13 central acts including Factories Act 1948 and Contract Labour Act 1970. Single registration regime, unified working hours, and stronger inter-state migrant worker protections. Backed by factoHR.

Acts Replaced

Unified Registration

8 hrs

Daily Hours Cap

Direct Answer

The OSH and Working Conditions Code 2020 merges 13 acts - Factories, Contract Labour, Inter-State Migrant Workers, and Mines Acts. Key changes: a single registration and licence, unified working hours, and stronger migrant-worker protections.

Acts Consolidated

13 central acts replaced by the OSH Code

Factories Act 1948

Mines Act 1952

Dock Workers Act 1986

Building & Construction Workers Act 1996

Plantations Labour Act 1951

Contract Labour Act 1970

Inter-State Migrant Workers Act 1979

Working Journalists Act 1955

Working Journalists (Wages) Act 1958

Motor Transport Workers Act 1961

Sales Promotion Employees Act 1976

Beedi & Cigar Workers Act 1966

Cine Workers & Cinema Theatre Workers Act 1981

Key Changes

6 key changes Indian employers must prepare for

Single Registration

One registration replaces multiple licences. Submit once for working conditions, contract labour, and migrant workers.

Working Hours Unified

8 hours daily, 48 hours weekly. Spread-over up to 12 hours allowed with overtime at twice the wage rate.

Migrant Worker Cover

Inter-state migrant workers get journey allowance, separate accommodation, and ration portability.

Annual Health Checks

Free annual medical examinations mandatory for hazardous work. Employer-funded.

Women in All Shifts

Women employees allowed to work in all shifts including night shift, subject to safety provisions.

Single Window Returns

Annual returns and statutory filings consolidated into single window submission.

Employer Impact

What changes for HR, factories, and operations

01 Consolidate registrations: replace multiple licences with one unified OSH registration.

02 Update working hours policy: enforce 8 hours daily / 48 hours weekly with spread-over cap.

03 Overtime workflow: 2x wage rate for any work beyond statutory hours.

04 Map inter-state migrant workforce: capture journey allowance and accommodation policy.

05 Plan annual medical checks for hazardous job roles (chemicals, mining, heavy machinery, construction).

06 Update night shift policy for women employees with safety protocols.

OSH Code-ready

Working hours, OT, and migrant tracking in one HRMS

factoHR India enforces statutory hours, computes 2x OT, tracks inter-state migrants, and stores OSH audit trail for every Indian employer.

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Hours + OT auto-calc

Single registration

Migrant worker tracking

Health check workflow

Other Codes

Explore the other 3 Labour Codes

Code on Wages 2019

Wages, bonus, equal remuneration.

Open

Social Security 2020

PF, ESI, gratuity, gig coverage.

Open

Industrial Relations 2020

Fixed-term, standing orders, unions.

Open

FAQs

OSH Code 2020: common questions

What is the OSH Code 2020?

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020 consolidates 13 central labour acts including the Factories Act 1948, Contract Labour Act 1970, Inter-State Migrant Workers Act 1979, and Mines Act 1952. It introduces a single registration regime, unifies working hours, and strengthens migrant worker and contract worker protections.

What are the working hours under the OSH Code?

The OSH Code 2020 caps working hours at 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week. Spread-over (total time at workplace including breaks) is up to 12 hours. Overtime beyond statutory hours must be paid at twice the regular wage rate.

Does the OSH Code allow women to work night shifts?

Yes. The OSH Code 2020 allows women employees to work in all shifts including night shifts, subject to employer ensuring safety protocols, consent, and proper transportation. This reverses earlier restrictions under the Factories Act 1948.

What is the single registration under the OSH Code?

The OSH Code 2020 introduces a single registration and licence regime that replaces multiple registrations under the Factories Act, Contract Labour Act, Inter-State Migrant Workers Act, and others. Employers register once for all working conditions related compliance.

What protections does the OSH Code add for migrant workers?

Inter-state migrant workers under the OSH Code are entitled to a journey allowance (annual travel allowance to home state), separate accommodation, ration portability via Aadhaar, and inclusion in social security schemes. Contractors must register all migrant workers.

Run OSH compliance on factoHR India

Working hours, OT, migrant tracking, and OSH audit in one HRMS.

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