**Summary of Ministry of Labour and Employment Notification (S.O. 2517(E))**
**Overview**
The Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, issued a formal notification on May 13, 2026, regarding mandated rest intervals during work hours. Published in The Gazette of India: Extraordinary (No. 2425), this notification is issued under the legal authority of the Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
**Key Provisions**
Under the powers conferred by Clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 25 of the Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (37 of 2020), the Central Government has established the following workplace standards:
* **Maximum Continuous Work:** No worker shall be engaged in continuous work for more than five hours.
* **Mandatory Rest Interval:** An interval of at least half an hour (30 minutes) must be provided after the maximum continuous work period.
**Implementation and Effective Date**
The provisions specified in this notification became effective on the date of its publication, May 14, 2026.
**Reference Data and Contact Information**
* **Notification Number:** S.O. 2517(E)
* **File Number:** F. No. S-65025/4/2026-ISH-II
* **Statutory Authority:** Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (Section 25)
* **Registration Number:** REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
* **Issuing Official:** Alok Chandra, Senior Labour and Employment Advisor
* **Publication Authority:** Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054; Printed at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064.
Key Entities Referenced
Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020: The primary legislative framework (Act 37 of 2020) under which rules regarding working hours and rest intervals are prescribed.
Section 25(1)(b) of the Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020: The specific legal provision that empowers the Central Government to notify the maximum period of continuous work and mandatory rest intervals.
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The central government ministry responsible for the issuance of this notification to regulate labor welfare and working conditions.
Alok Chandra: The Senior Labour and Employment Advisor who officially issued the notification on behalf of the Central Government.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-17052026-272643
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 2425] नई दिल्ली, बृिस्ट्प जतिार, मई 14, 2026/ििै ाख 24, 1948
No. 2425] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026/VAISAKHA 24, 1948
श्रम और रोिगार मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 13 मई, 2026
का.आ. 2517(अ).— केन्द्रीय सरकार, उपिीजिका िन्द्य सुरक्षा, स्ट्िास्ट््य और काय य ििाए ं संजिता, 2020 (2020
का 37) की धारा 25 की उपधारा (1) के खंड (ख) द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, इस अजधसूचना के प्रकािन की
तारीख स ेप्रभािी पांच घंटे स ेअनजधक लगातार काय यके साथ न्द्यूनतम आध ेघंटे के जिश्राम अतं राल को अजधसूजचत करती ि।ै
[फा. स.ं एस-65025/4/2026-आई एस एच-II]
आलोक चरं , िररष्ठ श्रम और रोिगार सलािकार
3501 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 13th May, 2026
S.O. 2517(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 25 of the
Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (37 of 2020), the Central Government hereby notifies
not more than five hours continuous work with an interval of at least half an hour with effect from the date of publication
of this notification.
[F. No. S-65025/4/2026-ISH-II]
ALOK CHANDRA, Senior Labour And Employment Advisor
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.