India Drafts Rules on Occupational Safety and Health for Factory Workers

The Indian Ministry of Labour and Employment has published the draft rules for factory workers under Sections 23 and 24 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, on September 24, 2025, opening a 45-day period for public comment. These draft rules stipulate the occupational safety and health regulations for workers in factories, including provisions related to ventilation, sanitary facilities, first aid, and conducting mock drills. These draft rules are positioned as a model law and will not be promulgated or enforced by the central government -- instead, the process will involve state governments to publish and enforce their own state-specific rules based on these draft rules.