Rules 2026 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 Uttar Pradesh Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2026 apply to factories, workplaces relating to building or other construction works and all other establishments in the State. Chapter I carries the title, definitions and the recognition of competent persons; the registration chapter sets out how an employer applies for registration, the fee by number of workers, the late fee, the appeal and the notices of commencement and cessation.
The rules replace eight earlier Uttar Pradesh sets, including the 1950 Factories Rules, the 1975 contract labour rules and the 2009 building workers rules. Registration is applied for electronically in Form-3; the fee runs from 5000 rupees for ten or more but fewer than twenty workers to 100000 rupees for one thousand or more (rule 5(4)). A principal employer who misses the sixty-day period pays a late fee of ten percent annually. An appeal lies within thirty days.
The notification and what it supersedes
The rules are the Uttar Pradesh Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2026, as notified by notification no. 962/XXXVI-03-2026-1903305 dated 27 August 2026. Later amendments and State notifications under these rules should be checked in the State Gazette.
The notification records that the draft was published on 23 March 2026 under sections 133 and 135 of the Code, with forty-five days for objections, and that the objections received were considered. The rules are made in supersession of the Uttar Pradesh Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Rules, 1975; the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1983; the Bidi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Rules, 1969; the Factories Rules, 1950; the Factories (Welfare Officers) Rules, 1955; the Factories (Safety Officers) Rules, 1984; the Building and Other Construction (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2009; and the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2022, "except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession".
Rule 1(2) extends them to the whole State. Rule 1(3) applies them to factories, workplaces relating to building or other construction works and all other establishments. Rule 1(4) says: "They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette." The text gives no other date, so read the Gazette of 27 August 2026 for the publication date.
The Central companions are rules 1 and 2, rule 3 on registration and rule 4 on notice of commencement and cessation of the Central OSH rules, and the post on sections 135 and 136 of the OSH Code. If your units cover several categories of establishment, a labour law compliance review can sort which Part of the rules applies to each.
Definitions that matter
Rule 2 defines "Other Establishment" as an establishment other than contract labour, inter-State migrant workers, audio-visual workers, beedi and cigar workers, building and other construction workers, factories and plantation. "Part Time Worker/Employee" means a person who works for less than half of a normal day's work under the Code. "Portal" means the official web-portal of the Labour Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh. "Quarter" means three consecutive months from 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October. Rule 3 says that, for section 2(1)(x), dependants getting wages equal to or more than the minimum wages applicable to the industry are not included under income from other sources.
Rule 4: competent persons
The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may recognise a person or an institution of repute as a competent person for tests, examinations and inspections of buildings, dangerous machinery, hoists and lifts, lifting machines and tackles, pressure plants, confined spaces and ventilation systems in a factory, if the qualifications in Schedule-I are met. A competent person is not more than 65 years of age. An application goes in Form-1 and is decided within thirty days, and the certificate of competency is in Form-2. The competent person sends a monthly report to the Inspector-cum-Facilitator by the 10th of every month and reports imminent danger immediately. The Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator may require re-certification of lifting machines, tackles, pressure plants or ventilation systems certified outside the State.
Rule 5: registering an establishment
The employer applies electronically in Form-3 on the specified web-portal with the establishment's details and the documents and proofs of identity and address, signed digitally or as the portal requires; the applicant is responsible for the veracity of the information. The PAN or TAN of the applicant or establishment may be verified online. The employer quotes the registration number on all documents and correspondence connected with the Code. The registering officer issues a certificate of registration in Form 3(A) and keeps an electronic register of establishments in Form-4.
Fees (rule 5(4)(a)).
| Number of workers employed | Fee in rupees |
|---|---|
| Ten or more but less than twenty | 5000.00 |
| Twenty or more but less than fifty | 10000.00 |
| Fifty or more but less than one hundred | 15000.00 |
| Hundred or more but less than two hundred and fifty | 20000.00 |
| Two hundred and fifty or more but less than five hundred | 25000.00 |
| Five hundred or more but less than one thousand | 50000.00 |
| One thousand or more | 100000.00 |
A proviso lets the State Government change the registration fee by general or special order, so the current amount should be checked against any such order.
Other conditions. A principal employer who has not applied within sixty days, as section 3(1) requires, submits the application with a late fee at the rate of ten percent annually (rule 5(6)). An employer already registered under a Central labour law, as section 3(8) describes, provides its registration particulars on the State portal within six months from the date the rules come into force (rule 5(7)). A copy of the certificate is displayed at a conspicuous place, in hard copy or electronically (5(8)). A change in ownership, management or any registered particular is applied for on the portal within thirty days of the change (5(9)). An employer whose business is closing may apply online for cancellation after giving complete details of dues, but the application is not entertained unless all statutory returns are furnished, all statutory dues under the Central Labour Codes and any Central or State labour law are paid, and a self-certification to that effect is submitted (5(10)).
Rule 6: appeal against the Registering Officer
An employer aggrieved by an order of the registering officer appeals to the appellate officer appointed by the State Government within thirty days of receipt, electronically or otherwise, by memorandum with grounds and a certified copy of the order. The appeal is registered in the electronic "Register of Appeals". If the appellant does not appear on the hearing date the appeal may be dismissed, and the appellant may apply electronically for restoration within thirty days if sufficient cause prevented appearance. The order is disposed of within thirty days from the receipt of the appeal.
Rule 7: notice of commencement and cessation
An employer to whom section 5 applies intimates the registering officer and the Inspector-cum-Facilitator within thirty days of the commencement and completion of any work, giving the actual dates of commencement, completion and cessation, in Form-5, electronically on the official portal. A notice of cessation of operation is enclosed with a certificate that payment of all dues to workers has been made and the premises are clear of storage of hazardous chemicals and substances.
A worked example
A packaging unit in Ghaziabad with ninety-five workers applies in Form-3 on the portal, pays the fee for the band of fifty or more but fewer than one hundred workers, displays the Form 3(A) certificate in the premises, and updates the portal within thirty days when a new director takes over. If its headcount later crosses one hundred, it checks the fee table and any fresh order of the State Government before it renews or amends anything.
Common lapses
- Applying after sixty days without including the late fee.
- Assuming a registration under a Central labour law avoids the State portal entry, which rule 5(7) requires within six months.
- Failing to update the portal within thirty days after a change of ownership or management.
- Filing a closure notice without the certificate of payment of dues.
Need help with registration under the Uttar Pradesh OSH rules?
If you have several units or contractors in Uttar Pradesh and are unsure of the registration category, fee band or portal entries, our labour law compliance service can help check each against rule 5. Registration is the first duty, and the later chapters assume it is done.
Key takeaways
- Eight earlier Uttar Pradesh sets are superseded, except for things done before supersession.
- Rules apply to factories, building or construction works and all other establishments; commencement is from publication in the Official Gazette.
- Apply in Form-3 on the portal; fee from 5000 to 100000 rupees by worker count; late fee ten percent annually.
- Update the portal within thirty days of changes; closure needs all returns and dues cleared.
- Appeal to the appellate officer within thirty days; notice of commencement and cessation in Form-5 within thirty days.
Read next
- Uttar Pradesh OSH Rules, 2026: employer duties, accident notices, safety committee and safety officers
- Uttar Pradesh OSH Rules, 2026: offences, compounding, the Social Security Fund and forms
- Rule 3 of the Central OSH rules: application for registration of establishment
- State rules under the four Labour Codes: which States have notified final rules
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.