West Bengal Government proposes the Draft West Bengal Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2026

The Government of West Bengal has proposed the Draft West Bengal Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2026 (“Draft Rules”) under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (“Code”).

Objections and suggestions to the Draft Rules, if any, may be sent to the Secretary, Labour Department through e-mail ID: labourcode.osh.ruleswb@gmail.com, within 27^th August, 2026 in the proforma containing the following columns:

1. Name and address of the person/organization;
2. Rule or sub-rule which is proposed to be modified;
3. The revised rule or sub-rule proposed to be substituted and reasons.

Key Proposals under the Draft Rules:

1. Employers of establishments seeking registration will be required to file an application electronically on the portal as may be designated by the State Government. The registration application is required to be accompanied by documents relating to the registration of the establishment, along with proof of identity and address of the employer.
2. Duties of employers, including conducting annual health examinations of employees, issuing letters of appointment, and providing notices of accidents, dangerous occurrences, and certain diseases have been laid down.
3. The Draft Rules prescribe the composition and functions of the Safety Committee for establishments employing 500 or more workers.
4. The appointment, qualifications, and duties of safety officers for the following classes of establishments have been laid down:
   • Establishments relating to Building or Other Construction Work;
   • Factories.
5. Provisions relating to working hours, compensatory holidays, and payment of extra wages for overtime have been prescribed.
6. The maintenance of the following registers and records has been prescribed:
   • Employee register in Form X;
   • Attendance register-cum-muster roll in Form XI;
   • Register for wages, overtime and deduction in Form XII;
   • Register of accident and dangerous occurrences in Form XVI;
   • Register of leave with wages in Form XVII.
7. The Draft Rules further prescribe the following display requirements:
   • Display of notices indicating periods of work at conspicuous places on a notice board or electronic board in Form-IX;
   • Display of weekly holidays at conspicuous places
   • Display of notices at a conspicuous place in the establishment, showing the name and address of the establishment, hours of work, wage period, date of payment of wages, details of accidents and dangerous occurrences in the establishment for the last five years, name and address of the Inspector-cum-Facilitator having jurisdiction in such establishment, and date of payment of unpaid wages to workers.
8. Employers of establishments will be required to upload returns in Forms XIV and XV on the designated portal, on or before the last day of February.
9. The Draft Rules lay down conditions governing the employment of women in establishments during night shifts, or before 6:00 a.m. and beyond 7:00 p.m. on any day.
10. The conditions for the grant of license to contractors, the procedure for issuance and renewal of such license, and the responsibilities of contractors have been specified.
11. Provisions relating to the payment of journey allowance to Inter-State Migrant Workers have been prescribed.
12. The procedure for issuance and renewal of factory license, as well as the procedure for obtaining site approval of such factories, along with the prescribed fees, have been laid down.
13. The Draft Rules further lay down a list of dangerous operations and prescribe safety requirements, sanitary facilities, protective clothing, welfare amenities and other necessary requirements for factories engaged in such operations.

Source: Government of West Bengal