Rule 88: Single Licence for Contractor in more than one States or for whole of India
Reviewed by Finin2min Editorial Desk · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Rule 88 — Governs single licence for contractor in more than one states or for whole of india and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: (ii) undertaking or executing the contract works under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 47 then, contractor shall apply electronically on Shram Suvidha Portal or Portal designated by the Central Government in…
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 were finally notified under G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026. The Central Rules must be read with the Code and any later amendment/corrigendum.
Finin2min analysis — operative rule mechanics
Operative clauses
- (ii) undertaking or executing the contract works under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 47 then, contractor shall apply electronically on Shram Suvidha Portal or Portal designated by the Central Government in FORM-XXI to the licensing authority for more than one States or for the whole of India.
- (2) Application for single licence under this rule shall be submitted electronically to the authority.
- (3) The concerned State Government shall be consulted by the authority electronically and if no response is received within thirty days from the date of issue of such communication the consultation process is deemed to have been complied with.
- (4) All applications under this rule shall be either approved or disapproved within a period of forty- five days, from the date of application by the contractor, beyond which it shall be deemed that there are no objections and the license shall be auto-generated on the Portal referred to in sub-rule (1).
- (5) Copy of the licence so issued shall be sent to the State Government in whose jurisdiction, the contract work or works for which licence is issued.
Provisos / explanations
- No proviso/explanation was separately extracted from this rule.
Thresholds & timelines
- (3) The concerned State Government shall be consulted by the authority electronically and if no response is received within thirty days from the date of issue of such communication the consultation process is deemed to have been complied with.
- (4) All applications under this rule shall be either approved or disapproved within a period of forty- five days, from the date of application by the contractor, beyond which it shall be deemed that there are no objections and the license shall be auto-generated on the Portal referred to in sub-rule (1).
- (6) Licence issued under this rule shall be valid for five years.
Full notified text — Rule 88
88. Single Licence for Contractor in more than one States or for whole of India.- (1) If a contractor
desirous of obtaining licence for-
(i) supplying or engaging contract labour;
(ii) undertaking or executing the contract works under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section
47 then, contractor shall apply electronically on Shram Suvidha Portal or Portal designated by
the Central Government in FORM-XXI to the licensing authority for more than one States or
for the whole of India.
(2) Application for single licence under this rule shall be submitted electronically to the authority.
(3) The concerned State Government shall be consulted by the authority electronically and if no
response is received within thirty days from the date of issue of such communication the consultation
process is deemed to have been complied with.
(4) All applications under this rule shall be either approved or disapproved within a period of forty-
five days, from the date of application by the contractor, beyond which it shall be deemed that there
are no objections and the license shall be auto-generated on the Portal referred to in sub-rule (1).
(5) Copy of the licence so issued shall be sent to the State Government in whose jurisdiction, the
contract work or works for which licence is issued.
(6) Licence issued under this rule shall be valid for five years.Application and evidence
- Primary statutory test — (ii) undertaking or executing the contract works under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 47 then, contractor shall apply electronically on Shram Suvidha Portal or Portal designated by the Central Government in FORM-XXI to the licensing authority for more than one States or for the whole of India.
- Additional operative limb — (2) Application for single licence under this rule shall be submitted electronically to the authority.
- Numerical or timing control — (3) The concerned State Government shall be consulted by the authority electronically and if no response is received within thirty days from the date of issue of such communication the consultation process is deemed to have been complied with.
- Code Section mapping — 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 119. Read the mapped provision together with this text rather than treating the concordance as a substitute for it.
- Prescribed-form link recorded in the corpus — I, XXI. Confirm the current notified form/version before filing.
- Evidence file — retain facts and records proving the role/status of: Central Government, State Government, Authority / officer.
Cross-references & prescribed forms
Worked example
For an establishment affected by single licence for contractor in more than one states or for whole of india, the compliance owner should identify the applicable sector and authority, document the prescribed control/notice/record and retain inspection or training evidence. A text point to test is: “(3) The concerned State Government shall be consulted by the authority electronically and if no response is received within thirty days from the date of issue of such communication the consultation process is deemed to have been complied with.” Reconcile the mapped Code Section(s) 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 119. Use the current notified I, XXI where the process requires it.
Illustrative only. Use the exact notified rule, prescribed form and competent authority.
Q&A — Rule 88
What is Rule 88 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026?
Rule 88 — Governs single licence for contractor in more than one states or for whole of india and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: (ii) undertaking or executing the contract works under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 47 then, contractor shall apply electronically on Shram Suvidha Portal or Portal designated by the Central Government in…
What does Rule 88 require or permit?
A principal operative clause extracted from the notified rule is: “(ii) undertaking or executing the contract works under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 47 then, contractor shall apply electronically on Shram Suvidha Portal or Portal designated by the Central Government in FORM-XXI to the licensing authority for more than one States or for the whole of India.” Read it with all sub-rules and provisos below.
Does Rule 88 contain a proviso or explanation?
No standalone proviso or explanation was extracted from this rule text. Check the complete rule below for clause-level conditions.
What deadline, period, percentage or amount appears in Rule 88?
The rule contains this numerical/time expression: “(3) The concerned State Government shall be consulted by the authority electronically and if no response is received within thirty days from the date of issue of such communication the consultation process is deemed to have been complied with.” Apply it only in its notified context.
Which Code sections are linked to Rule 88?
The current concordance maps Rule 88 to Section(s) 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 119.
Which form is connected with Rule 88?
The current corpus records: I, XXI. Confirm the current notified version before use.
When did Rule 88 come into force?
The final Central Rules were notified as G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026; Rule 1 states that the Rules come into force on publication. Check any later amendment or corrigendum before reliance.