Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa government has proposed a major overhaul of workplace regulations through the draft Goa Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Labour) Rules, 2026, with a strong focus on worker welfare, women’s safety and digital compliance systems.
Under the draft framework, establishments across the state will be required to shift to mandatory online registration, with applications deemed approved if authorities fail to process them within seven days. Registration fees are proposed to range from ₹3,200 for smaller businesses to ₹1.2 lakh for establishments employing over 401 workers.
One of the key highlights of the draft rules is the introduction of mandatory free annual medical check-ups for workers, along with compulsory appointment letters and overtime payments at double the normal wage rate. Employers would also have to report fatal workplace accidents within 24 hours to authorities, police and the deceased worker’s family.
The proposed rules place significant emphasis on the safety of women employees working night shifts between 7 pm and 6 am. Employers may be required to provide transport facilities, maintain proper lighting at workplaces and install CCTV surveillance in common areas as part of the safety measures.
The draft also includes welfare measures for inter-state migrant workers. Employers could be required to bear return travel expenses once every year for workers who complete at least 180 days of service. A dedicated toll-free helpline for migrant labourers has also been proposed by the Labour Department.
In a bid to simplify procedures, the government has proposed a single licence system covering factories, beedi and cigar establishments, and contract labour operations. At the same time, contractors with recent criminal convictions or insolvency records may be barred from obtaining licences.
The proposed rules, which aim to replace several older labour regulations under a single framework, have been opened for public feedback, with the government inviting objections and suggestions within 30 days before finalisation.
