Saloni Subanshi & Yash Srivastava

Students of National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi

Best Citation – Saloni Subanshi & Yash Srivastava, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY HEALTH AND WORKING CONDITIONS CODE, 2020: A RAY OF HOPE FOR THE MINING SECTOR IN INDIA?, 1 ILE LLR 37, 2022

ABSTRACT

The Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 is one of the three legislations which have been introduced by the Parliament in India to consolidate the prior existing central labour laws. The Code comprise of provisions relating to enhancement of the welfare and working conditions across various types of establishments across India including mines. Mining sector in India has boomed over the years as the demand as well as significance of minerals across the world has increased. However, the working environment in mines continues to be hazardous and it has often been seen that the workers are physically, socially and economically exploited at such establishments. The exploitation is especially prevalent in tribal areas, as can be seen by the dismal state of affairs existing in the mining industry of Jharkhand. The paper tries to provide a detailed analysis and comparison of the newly incorporated provisions in the Code alongside the Mines Act, 1952 and tries to throw light on the current state of affairs existing in the mine industry of Jharkhand and examine the challenges existing at the ground level, analyzing as to whether the provisions of the Code will be able to bring a change in the working conditions existing in the mining industry.

Keywords: OSH Code, 2020; Mines Act, 1952; Labour Laws; Mines; Jharkhand; exploitation; workers.