The OSHWC Code

• Vaid's ICS, Lucknow
• 13, Oct 2021

About It

The Standing Committee on Labour has invited suggestions from the public on the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2019.

• The OSH Code was introduced in the Lok Sabha in July, 2019.
• It aims to regulate the employment of workers, including those engaged by contractors, and their working conditions across sectors.

Key Provisions

• Replaces 13 labour lawsrelating to safety, health and working conditions, including the Factories Act, 1948, the Mines Act, 1952, and the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970.

Applicability

• Establishments employing at least 10 workers
• All mines and docks
• Provides special provisions for certain types of establishments and classes of employees, such as factories and building and construction workers.

A National Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board in place of multiple committees at present.

• The Board will have tripartite representation from trade unions, employer associations and state governments.
• The Board will advise the government on the standards, rules and regulations on workers’ safety, besides overseeing the implementation of the Code.

FACTS FOR PRELIMS

30 by 30’ agenda:

A bold vision for the future: Protect 30 percent of lands and waters in the United States by 2030 to meet the challenge of climate change and provide space for wildlife and communities to thrive.

Biodiversity fund:

• China on Tuesday pledged to inject $233 million into a new fund to protect biodiversity in developing countries during a key UN conservation summit, despite disagreements among major donors on the initiative. Beijing —
• the world’s biggest polluter — has sought to play a more prominent role internationally on biodiversity conservation in recent years.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM:

• Formed by an ordinance, “Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance 2020”, in October 2020. The Commission will be a statutory authority.
• It will supersede bodies such as the central and state pollution control boards of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.