Rule 47 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 47 sets the toilet standard for workplaces. It requires separate latrines and urinals for male, female, transgender and disabled employees, fixes numbers per headcount, requires sanitary napkins without charge in women's toilets, and lays down finish, privacy, water and signage rules.
The employer of every factory, mine, building or other construction work, beedi and cigar premise, motor transport undertaking, dock work and plantation must provide sufficient, separate, clean, lit and ventilated latrines and urinals for male, female, transgender and disabled employees. The numerical floor is one latrine per 25 male and 15 female employees, one each for disabled and transgender employees and one urinal per 15 males employed at the same time. Sanitary napkins must be supplied without charge and replenished daily. Construction, plantation and dock work must provide mobile toilets wherever required.
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 rule 47 puts the sanitation part of those facilities into numbers. Read the section in our 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 sanitation audit of your sites, see our labour law compliance service.
The sub-rules at a glance
| Sub-rule | Duty |
|---|---|
| (1)(i) | Sufficient latrine and urinal accommodation at conveniently accessible places, separately for male, female, transgender and persons with disabilities |
| (1)(ii) | Sufficiently lighted and ventilated; kept clean and sanitary at all times |
| (2)(i) | Floors of latrines, urinals and sanitary blocks kept non-slippery |
| (2)(ii) | Internal walls in glazed tiles, or finished with a smooth, polished, impervious surface |
| (2)(iii) | Sanitary pans of latrines and urinals kept washed and clean at all times |
| (3) | At least one separate latrine for every 25 male and 15 female employees; at least one separate latrine each for persons with disabilities and for transgender employees; at least one urinal for every 15 males employed at the same time; sufficient water in every latrine and urinal |
| (4) | "Cleaning in progress" signage, in English or Hindi and the local language, outside during cleaning |
| (5) | Washbasin with tap water |
| (6) | Sanitary napkins in sufficient quantity, without charge, kept in women's toilets and replenished daily |
| (7) | Lidded disposable bins in women's toilets for used napkins, safely disposed of; lidded bins also in toilets for men, transgender and disabled persons |
| (8) | Every latrine under cover and partitioned for privacy, with a proper door, fastenings and exhaust |
| (9) | Where male, female, transgender and disabled employees are employed, notice outside each block: "For men only", "For women only", "For transgender persons only" or "For persons with disabilities only", in Hindi or English and the local language |
| (10) | Waste or sullage water from latrines and urinals treated and safely disposed of |
| (11) | Water taps in or near latrines where piped supply exists; otherwise water by tap or otherwise, conveniently accessible in or near the latrines and urinals |
Reading the numbers in sub-rule (3)
The text says "at least one separate latrine accommodation, for every 25 male and 15 female employees". The sense is one latrine per 25 male employees and one per 15 female employees. The urinal ratio is one per 15 males "employed at the same time", so use the shift's headcount, not total roll strength.
| Workforce on one shift | Latrines (minimum) | Urinals (minimum) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 men | 2 | 4 (50 / 15, rounded up) |
| 30 women | 2 | Not applicable |
| 1 or more transgender employees | 1 separate | Not stated |
| 1 or more employees with disabilities | 1 separate | Not stated |
The rule does not say how fractions are handled. Rounding up is the safer reading for compliance, but the text is silent. It also does not set a latrine ratio for transgender or disabled employees beyond "at least one separate" each.
Mobile toilets
The proviso at the end says that in building or other construction work, plantation and dock works, facilities of mobile toilets are provided wherever required. A road crew, an estate field gang or a quayside gang can therefore meet the rule with mobile units, but the other sub-rules (separation, napkins, water, privacy, signage) are still read as applicable. The text does not say they are relaxed.
Practical points
- Sanitary napkins without charge are a statutory duty under (6), replenished daily, not a welfare gesture.
- Bins are required in every toilet type under (7), not only women's.
- Signage must name each category if all four are employed (9).
- Sullage treatment under (10) links to rule 48 on waste and effluents; see our rule 48 article.
Consequences
Rule 47 states no penalty of its own. Contravention is dealt with under the Code's penalty provisions; see our section 94 explainer. For the older factory-only framework, see our guide to welfare provisions under the Factories Act.
Practical examples
Example 1. A garment factory has 60 women on one shift. At one latrine per 15 women it needs at least four latrines for women, with a lidded bin, daily napkin stock and a washbasin with tap water.
Example 2. A construction contractor puts mobile toilets on a highway stretch. It places signs for each category, schedules daily cleaning with a "cleaning in progress" sign and arranges treated disposal of sullage.
Example 3. A plant employs one transgender employee. It must provide at least one separate latrine for transgender employees, with the matching notice outside.
Need help with workplace sanitation compliance?
Headcount ratios, napkin stock, signage and sullage disposal are all checkable on a walk-through. Our labour law compliance team can help you build a site checklist from rule 47 and work out the numbers for each shift.
Key takeaways
- Rule 47 applies to seven kinds of workplace, including plantation, dock and construction work.
- Latrines and urinals must be separate for male, female, transgender and disabled employees.
- Minimum: one latrine per 25 male and 15 female employees, one each for transgender and disabled employees, one urinal per 15 males employed at the same time.
- Sanitary napkins are supplied without charge and replenished daily; lidded bins are required.
- Construction, plantation and dock work must provide mobile toilets wherever required.
- State rules apply where the State is the appropriate Government.
Read next
- Rules 45 and 46: overcrowding and lighting
- Rule 48: treatment of waste and effluents
- Section 24: welfare facilities in the establishment
- Welfare provisions under the Factories Act
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.