Contents of the OSH Code

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

Section 128. Power to exempt during public emergency

In force since 21 Nov 2025Chapter XIV — Miscellaneous

Official text

In case of a public emergency or disaster or pandemic in whole of India or part thereof, the appropriate Government may, by notification, exempt any workplace or work activity or class thereof from all or any of the provisions of this Code for such period and subject to such conditions as it may think fit:

Provided that no such notification shall be made for a period exceeding one year at a time.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section “public emergency” means a grave emergency whereby the security of India or any part of the territory thereof is threatened, whether by war or external aggression or internal disturbance.

Source: The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, Act No. 37 of 2020 — Gazette of India, p. 63 of the PDF. Open our copy at p. 63 · official download · all sources

Commencement In force since 21 Nov 2025

Notification wording (1)
  • S.O. 5321(E), in force from 21 Nov 2025: “the Central Government hereby appoints the 21st day of November, 2025 as the date on which the provisions of the said Code, shall come into force”