The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh on September 02, 2026, issued the Ladakh Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2026.
The following has been stated:
• The Rules establish a comprehensive framework for registration, occupational safety, health, welfare and working conditions across covered establishments and require employers to obtain establishment registration through the prescribed portal, pay applicable registration fees and submit commencement/cessation notices; employers shall issue appointment letters to every employee, maintain prescribed electronic or physical records and provide free annual medical examination to employees above 45 years, while employees handling hazardous substances/processes or dangerous operations shall undergo medical examination twice a year.
• Employers are required to report accidents, dangerous occurrences and occupational diseases, and workers may report unsafe or unhealthy conditions to the employer, Safety Officer or Safety Committee, with remedial-action reports required in cases involving imminent danger. Safety Officers are required in factories employing 500–1,000 workers, with an additional Safety Officer for every additional 500 workers or fraction thereof, and in hazardous-process establishments and construction establishments employing 250–500 workers, with additional officers for every additional 250 workers or fraction thereof; prescribed qualifications, duties, senior-executive status and independence of Safety Officers are also provided.
• The Rules prescribe an ordinary working limit of 8 hours per day/48 hours per week, with overtime payable at twice the ordinary rate of wages; total working hours including overtime cannot exceed 12 hours in a day, spread-over cannot exceed 13 hours, overtime cannot exceed 72 hours of work in a week, and overtime is capped at 150 hours in a quarter, subject to the specified conditions and exemptions.
• The Rules further contain detailed requirements for hazardous processes, chemical handling, ventilation, personal protective equipment, emergency preparedness, medical surveillance, health registers, fitness certification, dangerous machinery and other high-risk operations, along with special provisions for construction work, motor transport workers, plantations, contract labour and inter-State migrant workers; contractors are required to obtain the prescribed licence, maintain worker details and comply with conditions relating to contract labour and migrant workers.
• The Rules also prescribe welfare and accommodation requirements for plantation workers, including safe and sanitary housing, drinking water, toilets, maintenance and rent-free accommodation subject to specified conditions.
[Notification No. - S.O. 238]
