Rule 44 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.
Rule 44 requires employers to give all employees an adequate supply of clean, wholesome and safe drinking water that is readily accessible in every workplace. It also sets rules for vessels, marking, common cups and, for construction sites, closed containers and tanks.
Employers of factories, mines, building or other construction work, beedi and cigar premises, motor transport undertakings, dock work and plantations must provide adequate, clean, wholesome and safe drinking water, readily accessible in all workplaces. Non-piped supply must be in marked vessels, replenished daily. Common drinking tumblers or cups are prohibited unless water is delivered by a rising jet. Construction sites have three extra duties on closed containers, cleaning tanks and keeping drinking water apart from unfit water.
The Code source
Section 24 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (the OSH Code) deals with welfare facilities in the establishment, and section 23 with health and working conditions. Rule 44 is one of the common rules for health, safety and working conditions that apply across the sectors the Rules cover. See our section 23 explainer and section 24 explainer.
Central Rules apply where the Central Government is the appropriate Government. Where the State Government is the appropriate Government, the State's own OSH rules apply. For a review of your welfare arrangements, see our labour law compliance service.
Who must comply
Rule 44 names the employer of every:
- factory;
- mine;
- building or other construction work;
- industrial premise for manufacture of beedi and cigar;
- motor transport undertaking;
- dock work; and
- plantation.
The four duties
| Clause | Duty |
|---|---|
| (i) | An adequate supply of clean, wholesome and safe drinking water is provided and is readily accessible to all employees in all workplaces |
| (ii) | Any supply other than piped supply is held in suitable vessels clearly marked or displayed in Hindi or English and in the local language to show the water is safe for drinking; the supply is replenished daily; and all necessary precautions are taken to protect the water and vessels from contamination |
| (iii) | Common drinking tumblers or cups are prohibited, except where water is delivered by a rising jet |
| (iv) | Where water is unsafe for drinking or is provided for other purposes, that is indicated in Hindi or English and in the local language |
The Rules do not give a litre-per-person figure. "Adequate" is the standard, so a site should fix a headcount-based quantity and record it.
Extra duties for construction sites
The proviso to rule 44 says that in a building or other construction work every employer shall ensure that:
- (a) drinking water for common use is stored only in closed containers from which the water is dispensed through taps;
- (b) if drinking water has to be transported to the worksite, the transport tanks, storage tanks and dispensing containers are cleaned and disinfected at regular intervals; and
- (c) a drinking water supply is never connected to a supply of water that is unfit to drink.
The text does not say how often "regular intervals" is. Fix a schedule, log it and keep the log.
What the language rule means in practice
Clauses (ii) and (iv) require signs in "Hindi or English" and in the local language. A plant in Tamil Nadu may therefore use English or Hindi plus Tamil. Two signs are not mandatory in both Hindi and English; one of the two is enough, alongside the local language.
Consequences
Rule 44 states no penalty of its own. Contravention is dealt with under the Code's penalty provisions; see our section 94 explainer. For the old Act comparison on welfare, see our guide to welfare provisions under the Factories Act.
Practical examples
Example 1. A packaging factory fills steel drums for the shop floor. Because this is not a piped supply, each drum carries a bilingual notice that the water is safe for drinking, is refilled daily and is kept covered. This matches clause (ii).
Example 2. A canteen keeps one steel tumbler chained to the cooler. Clause (iii) prohibits common cups unless water is dispensed by a rising jet, so the employer replaces the tumbler with a bubbler-type fountain.
Example 3. A road contractor trucks water to a remote site. It stores it in closed containers with taps, schedules tank cleaning and disinfection and keeps the pipe from the irrigation tank separate from the drinking supply, as the construction proviso requires.
Need help with welfare compliance at your sites?
Water points are a visible test of site hygiene, and signage, cleaning logs and replenishment records are quick to check. Our labour law compliance team can help you turn rule 44 into a daily checklist for each site or plant.
Key takeaways
- Rule 44 covers seven kinds of workplace: factory, mine, construction, beedi and cigar, motor transport, dock work and plantation.
- Water must be adequate, clean, wholesome, safe and readily accessible in all workplaces.
- Non-piped water goes in marked vessels and is replenished daily.
- Common cups are prohibited unless water is delivered by a rising jet.
- Construction sites have three extra duties on containers, tanks and separation from unfit water.
- State rules apply where the State is the appropriate Government.
Read next
- Rules 42 and 43: plantation cleanliness and dust
- Rules 45 and 46: overcrowding and lighting
- Section 24: welfare facilities in the establishment
- Welfare provisions under the Factories Act: canteen, shelter, crèche, first aid
Disclaimer: Based on the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (as enacted) and, where noted, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026), as on 30 September 2026. The Code is in force from 21 November 2025; some provisions may be notified later, and State Governments make their own rules for establishments where the State is the appropriate Government. Verify the current position before acting.