The Government of Gujarat has suggested changes to the Gujarat Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025 to aid effective enforcement of the OSHWC Code, 2020. The draft emphasizes enhance of the inspection system, prescription of competency standards; broadening scope ensuring hazardous processes and occupations are brought under its fold and establishing stringent medical and safety monitoring norms in factories/establishments engaged in construction. It is applicable to get license for contract labour, if the number of 50 or more contract workers is employed in an establishment on any day during the preceding twelve months, either by one contractor or more than one contractor.

Key Impacts

1. The revised laws codify the procedure for identifying people and institutions who are qualified to conduct safety checks, testing and certification of hazardous machinery, buildings or processes.

2. Regulators have the ability to interdict and withdraw certification in cases where inspections or certifications are improper or do not meet safety objectives.

3. Obligatory disciplines for the professional qualifications of medical personnel and periodic review of worker's health in dangerous operations are strengthened so as to detect occupational risks at an early stage.

4. The scope of ‘high-risk’ type activities has been extended, identifying more industrial processes as having a level of risk placing them under an increased focus with regard to safety, medical surveillance and compliance.

5. Specific safety regulations with regard to ventilation, fire protection, inspection/testing/preventative and operational training will be imposed on high risk equipment and processes.

6. Closure and reopening of businesses are conditioned on whether they have been subject to verified compliance or noncompliance, allowing government to act quickly and decisively while not stepping on people's toes.

Draft on Gujarat Occupational Safety, Health and Working Condition (Amendment) Rules, 2025