Gujarat explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Chapter X (rule 84) and Chapter XI (rule 85) of the Gujarat Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025 are short: one rule on compounding of offences and one on the common licence. The article is built around the Forms appended to the rules, listed below with the rule each serves.
The rules are the Gujarat Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025, as notified on 6 June 2025 (Gujarat Government Gazette, Extraordinary, 12 June 2025), in force from the date on which the OSH Code, 2020 comes into force. An application to compound an offence is made within 30 days of the service of notice, with the entire composition amount, and the officer may dispose of it within 60 days (rule 84). A common licence in Form 28 is issued within 30 days of receipt of application and is valid for one calendar year in Form 36 (rule 85).
Later amendments and State notifications under these rules should be checked in the State Gazette.
Commencement and Central rules
Rule 1(4) reads: "They shall come into force from the date on which the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, come into force." The four Labour Codes were brought into force from 21 November 2025. The Central rules are in rule 177 (holding an enquiry), rule 182 (compounding of offences) and rule 183 (Social Security Fund). Gujarat prints rules 84 and 85. For a notice received from an inspector or compounding officer, our legal consultation team can advise on the reply.
Compounding of offences (rule 84)
The occupier, manager or employer of the factory, building or other construction work or establishment may apply to the compounding officer notified by the State Government, with the documents showing compliance with the notice issued, court fee stamp in accordance with the Court Fees Act, 1870, within 30 days of the service of notice for the breach of the Code or the rules, and deposit the entire composition amount with the application. The compounding officer issues a composition certificate and may dispose of the application within 60 days. Under rule 84(3), composition under section 114 of the Code has the effect of an acquittal of the accused for the breach compounded. The rule prints no composition amount; the Code's own provisions fix it. The Code's penalty provisions apply to offences not compounded; see our post on Code sections 135 and 136 for how State rules sit with the Code.
The common licence (rule 85)
A person who wants a common licence for an establishment covering a factory, industrial premises for beedi and cigar work, and engaging of contract workers, or any combination, applies to the authority the State Government designates by notification. The application is in Form 28, accompanied by the total fees in the Schedule under rule 49(3) for the contractor, the Schedule under rule 65(1) for beedi and cigar premises, and the Schedule under rule 75(1) for factories, as the combination requires. These are set out in our articles on the contractor licence and the factory licence. The authority makes inquiry and, if satisfied, issues the licence within 30 days of receipt of the application. The common licence in Form 36 is valid for one calendar year. A person whose licence is rejected may approach the superior authority within thirty days from the date of rejection.
The Forms
| Form | Rule | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3, 4(1), 6 | Application for registration (existing, new, or amendment of certificate) |
| 2 | 4(3) | Certificate of registration of establishment |
| 3 | 4(11) | Register of establishments |
| 4 | 4(12), 8 | Notice of commencement or cessation of establishment |
| 5 | 9(a) | Annual health examination report |
| 6 | 11(A)(3) | Report of accident or dangerous occurrence resulting in death or bodily injury |
| 6-A | 11(A)(3) | Report of dangerous occurrence without bodily injury |
| 7 | 11(B) | Notice of accident or dangerous occurrence (building or construction work) |
| 8 | 12(A) | Notice of poisoning or notifiable disease (factories) |
| 9 | 12(B)(1) | Notice of disease (building or construction work) |
| 10 | 24 | Register of compensatory holidays |
| 11 | 25(A)(5) | Overtime register for exempted workers |
| 12 | 28 | Notice of period of work for adult workers |
| 13 | 29(1)(a), 38(3) | Register of workers, wages, overtime, fine, deduction for damage or loss |
| 14 | 29(1)(b) | Attendance register (muster roll) |
| 15 | 29(1)(e) | Wage book (construction workers) |
| 16 | 29(1)(f) | Service certificate (construction workers) |
| 17 | 30 | Register of adult workers |
| 18 | 31 | Identity card |
| 19 | 32 | Register for leave with wages |
| 20 | 33 | Leave card |
| 21 | 35 | Notice of wages and wage period |
| 22 | 36 | Register of accidents, major accidents and dangerous occurrences |
| 23 | 37 | Annual return (unified) |
| 24 | 44(1) | Certificate of fitness by medical officer |
| 25 | 47 | Application for contractor's licence |
| 26 | 48 | Proforma of contractor's licence |
| 27 | 57 | Experience certificate of contract employee |
| 28 | 64, 66, 85(2) | Application for licence (beedi and cigar premises) and for common licence |
| 29 | 68 | Application for work outside the industrial premises |
| 30 | 68 | Records of outside work |
| 31 | 69(2)(a) | Application for permission to construct, extend or take into use a building as a factory |
| 32 | 70 | Certificate of stability |
| 33 | 75(1), 77(1), 81(2) | Application for new or renewal of factory licence |
| 34 | 75(2) | Proforma of factory licence |
| 35 | 75(4) | Notice of change of manager |
| 36 | 85(4) | Proforma of common licence |
A worked example
Hindustan Packaging Works Pvt Ltd, Vapi, receives a notice of a breach of a registers rule. Within 30 days of service it applies to the compounding officer with documents showing compliance, a court fee stamp and the entire composition amount. The officer may dispose of it within 60 days; once compounded, it has the effect of an acquittal. Later, the company, which runs a factory and also engages contract workers, applies in Form 28 for a common licence with the combined fees under rules 49(3) and 75(1), and receives a Form 36 licence valid for one calendar year.
Need help with a notice or a common licence?
A compounding window of 30 days and a one-year common licence both need dates tracked. Our legal consultation team can review your notice or licence plan and the forms to file.
Key takeaways
- Apply for compounding within 30 days of service of notice, with the entire composition amount and a court fee stamp.
- Compounding has the effect of an acquittal for the breach compounded.
- A common licence in Form 28 is issued within 30 days and is valid for one calendar year in Form 36.
- Rejection of a common licence may be taken to the superior authority within thirty days.
- Forms 1 to 36 are appended; each is tied to a rule in the table above.
Read next
- Gujarat OSH Rules, 2025: factory licence, plans and fees
- Gujarat OSH Rules, 2025: notification, definitions and registration
- Rule 182 of the Central OSH Rules: manner of compounding of offences
Disclaimer: Based on the State or Union territory rules named above, as notified under the Labour Codes and consulted on 4 October 2026. Later amendments, State notifications, fees and forms should be checked in the State Gazette and on the State labour department website. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.