Contents of the OSH Code

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

Section 23. Responsibility of employer for maintaining health, safety and working conditions

In force since 21 Nov 2025Chapter V — Health, Safety and Working Conditions

Official text

(1) The employer shall be responsible to maintain in his establishment such health, safety and working conditions for the employees as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power conferred under sub-section (1), the Central Government may prescribe for providing all or any of the following matters in the establishment or class of establishments, namely:—

(i) cleanliness and hygiene;

(ii) ventilation, temperature and humidity;

(iii) environment free from dust, noxious gas, fumes and other impurities;

(iv) adequate standard of humidification, artificially increasing the humidity of the air, ventilation and cooling of the air in work rooms;

(v) potable drinking water;

(vi) adequate standards to prevent overcrowding and to provide sufficient space to employees or other persons, as the case may be, employed therein;

(vii) adequate lighting;

(viii) sufficient arrangement for latrine and urinal accommodation to male, female and transgender employee separately and maintaining hygiene therein;

(ix) effective arrangements for treatment of wastes and effluents; and

(x) any other arrangement which the Central Government considers appropriate.

Source: The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, Act No. 37 of 2020 — Gazette of India, p. 25 of the PDF. Open our copy at p. 25 · official download · all sources

Compliance obligations under this provision

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”