Rules 49-50 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 49 requires washing facilities with water, soap and towels, kept separate for male, female, transgender and disabled employees. Rule 50 requires bathing places and locker facilities on the same basis, where the nature of work makes them necessary.
The employer of every factory, mine, building or other construction work, motor transport undertaking, dock work and plantation must provide suitable and sufficient washing facilities with regular water supply, soap and towels, separately for four categories of employees, and must not allow common towels (rule 49). Rule 50 adds separate bathing places and locker facilities, as necessary owing to the nature of work, and also covers beedi and cigar premises. Construction sites must also provide shower-baths with hot and cold water where workers face skin contamination.
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 rules 49 and 50 put the washing, bathing and locker part of that into detail. Read the section in our section 24 explainer. For the older factory provision on washing facilities, see our article on washing facilities in a factory.
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 help auditing welfare facilities, see our labour law compliance service.
Rule 49: washing facility
Rule 49 applies to factories, mines, building or other construction work, motor transport undertakings, dock work and plantations. Beedi and cigar premises are not named in rule 49 (they are in rule 50).
Sub-rule (i): suitable and sufficient washing facilities at easily accessible places, with a regular and adequate supply of water including soap and towels, separately for male, female, transgender and disabled employees. The facilities must be:
| Clause | Requirement |
|---|---|
| (a) | Separated from the workplaces (and within plantation premises in the case of plantation workers) |
| (b) | Well ventilated |
| (c) | With a proper drainage system |
| (d) | Maintained in a sanitary and hygienic condition |
| (e) | Capable of being secured from inside for privacy, with a proper door and fastenings |
| (f) | Demarcated outside with "For men only", "For women only", "For transgender persons only" or "For persons with disabilities only", as the case may be, in Hindi or English and the local language |
Sub-rule (ii): the use of common towels is prohibited.
Extra provisions for construction work
The proviso says that in building or other construction work:
- (a) where employees are exposed to skin contamination by poisonous, infectious or irritating substances, or oil, grease or dust, a sufficient number of appropriate washing facilities or shower-baths supplied with hot and cold water must be provided; and
- (b) washing facilities are not used for any other purpose.
Rule 50: bathing places and locker rooms
Rule 50 applies to factories, mines, building or other construction work, beedi and cigar premises, motor transport undertakings, dock work and plantations.
Sub-rule (i): bathing places and lockers. Suitable, separate and sufficient bathing places and locker facility, as may be necessary owing to the nature of work, at easily accessible places, with regular and adequate supply of water including soap and towels, for male, female, transgender and persons with disabilities separately. The same six conditions apply as in rule 49(i)(a) to (f): separated from workplaces (and within plantation premises for plantation workers), well ventilated, proper drainage, sanitary and hygienic, lockable from inside with a proper door and fastenings, and demarcated outside with the category notice.
Sub-rule (ii): locker facilities. Suitable, separate locker facilities, as necessary owing to the nature of work, at easily accessible places for storing clothing worn during working hours and special clothing worn at work but not taken home, separately for the four categories.
Rules 49 and 50 compared
| Point | Rule 49 | Rule 50 |
|---|---|---|
| Facility | Washing facilities | Bathing places and locker facilities |
| Employers | Factory, mine, construction, motor transport, dock work, plantation | Same, plus beedi and cigar premises |
| Soap and towels | Yes, regular and adequate water, soap and towels | Yes, water, soap and towels |
| "As necessary owing to nature of work" | Not used | Used |
| Common towels | Prohibited (sub-rule (ii)) | Not mentioned in the text |
| Construction proviso | Shower-baths with hot and cold water for contaminated workers; no other use | None |
The text does not say who supplies the towels or whether they are provided without charge; it only says the facility is provided "with" soap and towels. Treat them as part of what the employer provides, unless the Gazette text says otherwise.
Consequences
Rules 49 and 50 state no penalty of their own. Contravention is dealt with under the Code's penalty provisions; see our section 94 explainer.
Practical examples
Example 1. A foundry gives each worker a personal towel on issue and a washing area with a tap, drain, soap dispenser and a lockable door, with category signs. Common towels are removed, as rule 49(ii) requires.
Example 2. A road construction contractor has workers handling bitumen and oil. Under the construction proviso it provides appropriate washing facilities or shower-baths with hot and cold water, and keeps the wash area for washing only.
Example 3. A chemical-handling dock gang needs to change out of contaminated work clothing. Rule 50(ii) supports separate lockers for special clothing that is not taken home.
Need help with welfare facilities compliance?
Separate facilities for four categories of employees, signage and supply of soap and towels are simple to inspect and often missed. Our labour law compliance team can help you map your sites to rules 49 and 50 and decide where bathing places and lockers are needed.
Key takeaways
- Rule 49 requires washing facilities with water, soap and towels, separate for male, female, transgender and disabled employees.
- Common towels are prohibited.
- Rule 50 requires bathing places and lockers as necessary owing to the nature of work.
- Construction sites need shower-baths with hot and cold water for contaminated workers, and wash areas must not be used for other purposes.
- State rules apply where the State is the appropriate Government.
Read next
- Rule 48: treatment of waste and effluents
- Rules 51 and 52: keeping of clothes and sitting arrangements
- Rule 47: latrine and urinal accommodation
- Washing facilities in a factory: section 42
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.