Lok Sabha Question No. 4222 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Safety and Health of Workers  in Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Satish Kumar Gautam, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti, Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre, Shri Parbhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava, Shri Vijay Kumar Dubey, Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh, Shri Ananta Nayak

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4222 ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026

## SAFETY AND HEALTH OF WORKERS IN COAL MINES

4222.  Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab:
2. Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre:
3. Shri Parbhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava:
4. Shri Vijay Kumar Dubey:
5. Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh:
6. Shri Satish Kumar Gautam:
7. Shri Naba Charan Majhi:
8. Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti:

Shri Ananta Nayak:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether annual health examinations and notified occupational disease coverage under the new Labour Codes have enhanced miner welfare and reduced compliance burdens in the coal  mines  including  coal  mines  located  in  Odisha  particularly  in  Keonjhar  Lok  Sabha Constituency;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the measures being taken by the Government to ensure the safety and health  of workers in both public and private sector coal mines including those operating in Odisha;
- (d) whether the Government has a comprehensive plan for the Just Transition of workers in mines approaching end-of-life stage including in mining belts such as Keonjhar; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES (SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY)

(a) & (b): Yes. The Central Government has implemented the four Labour Codes, the Code on Wages, 2019, the Code on Social Security, 2020 (CoSS), the  Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (IR  Code),  and  the  Occupational  Safety,  Health and  Working  Conditions  Code,  2020 (OSH&WC  Code)  with  effect  from  21st  November  2025.  The  Codes  consolidate  29 legislations into 4. Further, the four Labour Codes provide for single registration, licensing and return, reduce multiplicity of definitions and authorities, facilitate use of technology and bring transparency and accountability in enforcement and thereby reduce compliance burden.

Employers are mandated to provide  free of cost  annual  health  examination  and  tests  for employees and report occurrence of notified diseases to appropriate Government, as provided under the OSH & WC code, 2020. These provisions enable early detection of diseases and preventive  healthcare,  help  reduce  medical  expenses  and  support  the  development  of  a healthier, more productive workforce  in the coal mines including those located in Odisha. (c):  Coal  sector-specific  safety  regulations  have  been implemented under the Coal Mines Regulations,  2017,  to  prescribe  modernisation,  mechanisation,  emergency  response  and evacuation requirements in all coal mines. The OSH&WC Code, 2020, which has come into effect from 21st November, 2025 regulates working conditions and workplace environments to  safeguard  the  health,  safety,  and welfare  of  workers,  including  mine  workers.  The provisions are applicable for all coal mines in public as well as private sector.

(d) & (e):The Mining Plan and Mine Closure Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Coal on 31.01.2025 incorporate provisions relating to community engagement, adoption of global best practices for mine  closure. Additionally, the Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) undertake various initiatives under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) programmes for projectaffected families. These include skill development programmes, vocational training, support for self-employment and infrastructure development in mining-affected areas.

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