Enumerate any 10 salient features of the Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.

CS Professional · Labour Laws and Practice · PYQS · June 2026
Enumerate any 10 salient features of the Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.

Answer & Explanation:

Salient Features of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 Unified Registration: A uniform threshold of 10 employees is set for electronic registration. One registration for an establishment has been envisaged in place of 6 registrations in the Acts. This will create a centralised database and promote ease of doing business. Extension to Hazardous Work: The Government can extend the Code's provisions to any establishment, even with one employee, engaged in hazardous or life-threatening occupations. Simplified Compliance: Introduces one license, one registration, one return framework for the establishments, reducing redundancy and compliance burden. Wider Definition of Migrant Workers: The definition of inter-state migrant workers (ISMW) now covers workers employed directly, through contractors, or migrate on their own. Establishments must declare the number of ISMW. Benefits include: a lump-sum annual travel allowance to native place once in 12 months and portability of public distribution system and social security benefits across states along with access to a toll-free helpline. Health and Formalization: Free annual health check-ups for employees. Formalization via appointment letters: Appointment letters specifying job details, wages, and social security will be given to enhance transparency and accountability. Women's Employment: Women can work in all types of establishments and during night hours (before 6AM, beyond 7PM) with consent and safety measures, fostering equality and inclusion. Expanded Media Worker Definition: "Working journalists" and "cine workers" now include employees in electronic media and all forms of audio-visual production. National Database for Unorganised Workers: A national database to be developed for unorganized workers including migrants to help migrant workers get jobs, map their skills and provide other social security benefits. Victim Compensation: Courts can direct at least 50% of fines imposed on offenders to be paid as compensation to victims or their legal heirs in case of injury or death. Contract Labour Reform: Applicability threshold has been raised from 20 to 50 contract workers. All India license valid for 5 years against work-order based license to be provided to the contractor. For contract labour, beedi and cigar manufacturing and factory: a common license is envisaged and provision of deemed license after expiry of prescribe period is introduced. Moreover, the license shall be auto-generated. Provision of contract labour board has been done away with and provision for appointment of designated authority to advise matters on core and non-core activities is introduced. Safety Committees: Establishments with 500 or more workers will form safety committees with employer-worker representation, enhancing workplace safety and shared accountability. National Occupational Safety & Health Advisory Board: A single tripartite advisory board replaces six earlier boards to set national safety and health standards across sectors, ensuring uniformity and quality. Decriminalisation & Compounding of Offences: Offences punishable by fine only to be compounded by paying 50% of the maximum fine; those involving imprisonment or fine or both by 75%. Criminal penalties (imprisonment) replaced by civil penalties like monetary fines, promoting compliance over punishment. Revised Factory Thresholds: Applicability increased from 10 to 20 workers (with power) and 20 to 40 workers (without power), reducing compliance burden for small units. Social Security Fund: Establishes a fund for unorganised workers, financed through penalties and compounding fees, for their welfare and benefit delivery. Contract Labour- Welfare & Wages: Principal employers to provide welfare facilities like health and safety measures to contract workers. If the contractor fails to pay wages, the principal employer has to pay unpaid wages to the contract labour. Working Hours & Overtime: Normal working hours capped at 8 hours/day and 48 hours/week. Overtime allowed only with worker consent and paid at twice the regular rate. Inspector-cum-Facilitator System: Inspectors will now act as facilitators with an objective to help employers comply with law, rules and regulations rather than merely policing them.

Topics: Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

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