The Department of Labour, Govt. of Punjab on January 22, 2026, issued the Draft Punjab Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025.
The following has been stated: -
• The Draft rules lay down a comprehensive regulatory framework to ensure worker safety, health, welfare, and uniform working conditions across establishments in Punjab.
• The draft rules prescribe detailed obligations for employers relating to workplace safety standards, hazard identification, risk assessment, medical examinations, cleanliness, ventilation, lighting, drinking water, sanitation, and welfare facilities, along with mandatory appointment of safety officers in specified establishments. They provide for registration and licensing of establishments, maintenance of electronic registers and returns, and digital inspections to enhance transparency and ease of compliance.
• The draft further regulates working hours, leave, overtime, night shifts (including safeguards for women workers), inter-State migrant workers, contract labour, and employment conditions of specific categories of workers.
• It also lays down procedures for accident reporting, inquiry, and compensation, constitution of Safety Committees, training requirements, and emergency response measures. Penalties, inspection mechanisms, and grievance redressal provisions are included to ensure effective enforcement.
• Overall, the draft rules aim to consolidate and modernise labour compliance in Punjab while balancing worker protection with simplified procedures for employers
[Notification no. - Labour-Lab0MISC/16/2026-4L/14]
