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.
The Gujarat Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025 replace the Gujarat Factories Rules, 1963 and five other sets of State rules, and set out how a factory, establishment or construction work is registered, what it pays and how it appeals. This article covers the notification, commencement, the definitions an employer needs and Chapter II (rules 3 to 8).
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). Rule 1(4) says they come into force from the date on which the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, come into force. Registration is online in Form 1; the certificate in Form 2 issues within seven days or is deemed granted (rule 4(3)). Fees run from Rs. 500 to Rs. 10000 by number of workers (rule 5). An appeal lies within thirty days (rule 7).
Later amendments and State notifications under these rules should be checked in the State Gazette.
The notification and commencement
The notification (No. GR/2025/76/FAC/142021/68396/M3) is dated 6 June 2025, of the Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department, Gandhinagar, published in Extra No. 87 of 12 June 2025. It recites that draft rules were published on 31 December 2021, with forty-five days for objections, and that the objections received were considered. The rules are made under sections 133 and 135 of the OSH Code, in supersession of:
- the Gujarat Factories Rules, 1963;
- the Gujarat Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2003;
- the Gujarat Motor Transport Workers Rules, 1965;
- the Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) (Gujarat) Rules, 1968;
- the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) (Gujarat) Rules, 1972; and
- the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Gujarat) Rules, 1981.
Rule 1(2) extends the rules to the whole State, and rule 1(3) applies them to all factories, establishments and building or other construction work in relation to which the State Government is the appropriate Government under the Code. 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.
For the Central rules on short title and definitions see rules 1 and 2 of the Central OSH Rules, and on State rules and Central regulations see sections 135 and 136 of the OSH Code. An employer needing registration support can use our labour law compliance service.
Definitions an employer needs (rule 2)
Rule 2 is long because it covers building and construction work (scaffolds, caissons, tunnels, lifting appliances and similar terms). The ones most employers meet are these:
| Term | As printed |
|---|---|
| Child | A person who has not completed fourteen years of age |
| Registering officer | The officer appointed by the State Government for the purposes of registration |
| Medical Officer | A person appointed under section 42 of the Code by the Government |
| State advisory board | The State Occupational Safety and Health advisory board constituted under the Code |
| Appellate officer | A person notified by the State Government for section 4(1) of the Code |
| Appellate authority | The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator appointed under section 34(1) |
| Approved | Approved in writing by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator or the State Government |
Registration, step by step (rules 3 and 4)
- Application. The employer or occupier of an establishment or factory not already registered applies electronically in Form 1 on the portal of the Commissioner of Labour, giving details and uploading the registration documents and proof of identity and address; the form is signed digitally or as required, and the applicant answers for the veracity of the information (rules 3 and 4(1)).
- Verification. The PAN of the applicant or establishment, or another unique number allotted under any other Act, may be verified online (rule 4(2)).
- Certificate. Issued in Form 2 electronically immediately if the application is complete, and not later than seven days from submission of the complete application, failing which the establishment is deemed registered and the certificate is auto-generated. The State Government may by notification dispense with electronic registration for a class of establishments (rule 4(3)).
- After registration. The certificate is non-transferable and a copy is displayed at a conspicuous place, in hard copy or electronically (4(4)); the registration number is quoted on all documents and correspondence (4(8)); the registering officer keeps a register in Form 3 (4(11)).
- Updating. An employer already registered under any other central labour law updates particulars on the portal within six months from the date the Code comes into force (4(6)); any change in ownership, management or registered particulars is updated within thirty days (4(9)).
- Wrong information. Registration obtained by wrong information may be cancelled after a show-cause opportunity, electronically or by registered post (4(7)).
- Closure. An employer whose activities are in process of closure may apply online for cancellation after giving complete details of dues, but only after furnishing all statutory returns, paying all statutory dues and submitting a self-certification (4(10)).
- Commencement and completion of work. Within thirty days of the commencement and completion of any work, the employer intimates the Inspector-cum-Facilitator in Form 4, electronically; this is auto-shared to EPFO and ESIC (4(12)).
Fees and late fees (rule 5)
| Number of workers proposed to be employed on any day | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 49 | Rs. 500 |
| 50 to 99 | Rs. 1000 |
| 100 to 299 | Rs. 5000 |
| 300 and above | Rs. 10000 |
Fees are paid by e-payment. Where an application is not submitted within 60 days as required by section 3(1), a late fee applies as a percentage of the fee:
| Period of delay | Late fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 days | 5% |
| Up to 60 days | 10% |
| Up to 90 days | 15% |
| Above 90 days | 1% every day |
Existing factories already registered under a central law (the Factories Act, 1948, the Contract Labour Act, the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, the Building Workers Act, the EPF Act or the ESIC Act) submit the factory's particulars in Form 1 within 180 days of commencement of the Code, and pay no registration fee (rule 6).
Appeals (rule 7)
An employer or occupier aggrieved by the registering officer's order appeals to the appellate officer within thirty days of receipt of the order. The appeal is a memorandum stating the grounds, with a certified copy of the order. The officer admits it, registers it in a register of appeals, calls for the record and fixes a hearing. If the appellant does not appear, the appeal may be dismissed, and it can be restored on application within thirty days of dismissal if there was sufficient cause. The officer confirms, reverses or varies the order, and the order is to be disposed of within thirty days of receipt of the appeal.
Notice of commencement and cessation (rule 8)
The employer of a factory, or one relating to contract labour or construction work, submits a notice of commencement or cessation of operation to the registering officer in Form 4, electronically, within thirty days. A notice of cessation carries a certificate that all dues to the workers have been paid and that the premises are kept clear of storage of hazardous chemicals and substances. The Central rule on the same notices is in rule 4 of the Central OSH Rules.
A worked example
Dholera Precision Components Pvt Ltd plans a new unit employing 120 workers. It applies in Form 1 on the portal and pays Rs. 5000 (100 to 299 workers). If it files after the 60-day period required by section 3(1) and is 45 days late, the late fee is 10% of the fee. The certificate in Form 2 issues within seven days of a complete application or is deemed granted. When the unit starts work, it files Form 4 within thirty days.
Need help with OSH registration in Gujarat?
Registration, fee slab, late fee and the thirty-day update rules interact with EPFO and ESIC sharing. Our labour law compliance team can prepare the Form 1 filing and the later updates.
Key takeaways
- Rules come into force from the date the OSH Code, 2020 came into force; the Codes were brought into force from 21 November 2025.
- Apply in Form 1; the Form 2 certificate comes within seven days or is deemed granted.
- Fees: Rs. 500, Rs. 1000, Rs. 5000, Rs. 10000 by number of workers; late fees from 5% to 1% a day.
- Update changes within thirty days; file Form 4 within thirty days of commencement or completion.
- Appeal within thirty days; the appeal is to be disposed of within thirty days.
Read next
- Gujarat OSH Rules, 2025: employer duties, accident notices, safety committee and safety officers
- Gujarat OSH Rules, 2025: compounding of offences, common licence and list of Forms
- Rule 3 of the Central OSH Rules: application for registration of establishment
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.