Advisory on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020

Under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020 and the Code on Social Security (COSS), 2020, every establishment must now register under the OSH Code and obtain a Labour Identification Number (LIN).

Here’s a plain-language breakdown of what this means, who it applies to, and the deadlines you can’t afford to miss.

What is the LIN, and why does it matter?

The Labour Identification Number acts as a single thread that ties together your various labour law compliances — including EPF and ESI — under the Code on Social Security, 2020. Instead of managing each registration in isolation, the LIN is designed to integrate and link them in one place.

Who needs to register?

In short: everyone. Registration under the OSH Code is mandatory for all establishments and will be the foundation for all labour law compliances going forward.

This includes businesses that are already registered under EPF and ESI. Existing registration doesn’t exempt you — you still need to register under the OSH Code and link your current compliances through the LIN.

All registrations are done through the Shram Suvidha Portal 2.0:

🔗 https://shramsuvidha.gov.in/

A helpful tip: if you already have a LIN, you can retrieve it using your EPFO or ESIC portal login credentials.

Central vs. State jurisdiction

Which authority governs your registration depends on where you operate:

• Multi-State establishments — Any establishment with branches or units across more than one State or Union Territory (including its contractors) falls under the Central Government Rules.
• Single-State establishments — If you operate within just one State and have no branches elsewhere, the relevant State Government is the appropriate authority. In these cases, registration will only begin once that State Government notifies the final rules for these Codes.

A note on OTP verification

During registration, the Principal Employer will need to complete OTP verification at multiple stages. These OTPs are sent to the Principal Employer’s registered mobile number and email ID — and they’re valid for only one minute, so keep those contact points close at hand.

Key deadlines

Two timelines apply, depending on your situation:

1. Existing establishments already registered under any labour law (ESI, EPF, CLRA, etc.) must update their registration details on the Shram Suvidha Portal within six months of the Central Rules commencement date — 8th May 2026.
2. New establishments must submit an application electronically in Form-I through the Shram Suvidha Portal within 60 days of being established.

The Bottom Line

OSH Code registration is no longer optional, and the clock is already ticking for existing businesses. Getting your LIN in place — and linking your existing EPF/ESI compliances to it — is the first step toward staying compliant under the new labour codes.

If you haven’t started yet, the User Registration Manual on the Shram Suvidha Portal is a good companion, and the official FAQs on Registration and Appeals under the OSH Code, 2020 and the Social Security Code, 2020 are worth keeping handy as a reference.

Apply_for_Registration _User_Side_User_Manual

 Shram_Suvidha_Registration_and_Appeal_FAQs