OSH&WC, 2020: “core activity” dispute mechanism

A Ministry of Labour & Employment order under rule 101 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026, laying down how a party can get the Centre to decide whether a particular activity of an establishment is a “core activity” — the classification that governs where contract labour can lawfully be engaged under the OSH Code.

The route:

• The aggrieved party files the prescribed Form (11 fields — establishment and contractor/licence details, the disputed activity, contract vs permanent worker counts, nature of dispute, documents) with supporting papers, by email (lwa-mole@gov.in) or speed post, to the Under Secretary (Contract Labour), MoLE.
• MoLE may refer it to the designated authority (appointed vide S.O. 2483(E) dated 13 May 2026).
• That authority submits a report with recommendations within 60 days; MoLE decides within 30 days of the report, following natural justice, and communicates the decision to the applicant.

Employers, contractors and unions now have a formal adjudication path for “core vs non-core” disputes — relevant wherever contract-labour deployment is contested under the new codes.

Please find attached the official notification below:

1783527917359