Govt. of India | Ministry of Labour & Employment
📍 New Delhi
For 70 years, Indian mines were governed by the Mines Act, 1952 and Mines Rules, 1955. These laws were created for a different era — before mechanised mines, before modern safety standards, and before nationwide social security systems.
On 21 November 2025, the Government made the Four Labour Codes effective. This historic step officially repeals the Mines Act and replaces it with a single, modern law for all mines — the OSHWC Code, 2020.
👉 This is the biggest legal change for the mining sector since Independence.
Every miner — permanent, contract, outsourced or FTE — must get a formal appointment letter. No letter = illegal employment.
Workers aged 40+ must receive a free yearly medical examination. This was NOT guaranteed under the Mines Act.
Certain travel accidents to/from mine sites can now be treated as occupational accidents, making workers eligible for compensation and ESIC benefits.
The earlier complete ban on women in underground mines is gone. Women may work in any mine role (with consent + safety measures).
Even mines with one worker engaged in hazardous processes must provide ESIC. Many mining belts gain coverage for the first time.
The principal employer must now ensure PF, ESIC, insurance, and social security for contract mining labour. FTE miners get gratuity after 1 year.
Instead of multiple old rules, uniform national safety standards will now govern ventilation, dust, machinery, blasting, and hazardous work.
Mining establishments now file one licence, one registration, and one return, replacing scattered systems under the Mines Act.
Rajappa, an underground miner from Ballari, worked through a contractor for 11 years without an appointment letter or ESIC. Under the Mines Act, he had no formal proof of service. 👉 After 21 Nov 2025, his employer must issue him a legal appointment letter and provide ESIC coverage. When he travels 18 km to the mine every morning, any qualifying accident on this route can now count as a work-related accident. Rajappa finally gets protection the old Act never gave.
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