Govt Releases Final OSHWC (Central) Rules, 2026, Replacing Multiple Existing Labour Rules

The Ministry of Labour and Employment under the Government of India has officially announced the release of the final Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026, through its Notification No. G.S.R. 345(E), dated May 08, 2026.

Earlier, the government had invited feedback (objections and suggestions) from the individuals who were likely to be affected by these rules on the draft version of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026, published in the Official Gazette through a Notification No. G.S.R. 934 (E), dated December 30, 2025, for which the time limit is 45 days from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette.

After the end of the prescribed time limit, the government deeply analysed every submitted piece of feedback and, accordingly, introduced amendments to draft rules, thereafter releasing the final version of the said rules. According to the notification, these rules have been framed by the government of India in pursuance of its powers granted under sections 133 and 134 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (37 of 2020).

These rules are anticipated to replace the following:

• Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Rules, 1990;
• Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Condition of Services) (Central) Rules, 1998;
• Mines Rules, 1955;
• Mines Rescue Rules, 1985;
• Mines Vocational Training Rules, 1966;
• Pithead Bath Rules, 1959;
• Mines Crèche Rules, 1966;
• Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Central Rules, 1971;
• Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Central Rules, 1979.
• Working Journalists (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Rules, 1957;
• Cine-Workers and Cinema Theatre Workers (Regulation of Employment) Rules, 1984;
• Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1976;
• Working Journalist (Fixation of Rates of Wages) Rules, 1958;
• Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees Tribunal Rules, 1979, and Others.

For complete information, download the official notification using the link below.