Section 21: Collection of statistics and portal for inter-State migrant workers
Reviewed by Finin2min Editorial Desk · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Section 21 — Governs collection of statistics and portal for inter-state migrant workers and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this section. Key operative text: (1) For the purposes of this Code, the Central Government and the State Government shall collect, compile and analyse occupational safety and health statistics in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
All provisions were brought into force from 21 November 2025 under S.O. 5321(E), subject to the Central/State appropriate-Government split and provision-specific appointments/notifications.
Provision / India Code ↗ · Official Act PDF ↗ · 2026 Central Rules ↗
Finin2min analysis — what the section actually does
Operative clauses
- (1) For the purposes of this Code, the Central Government and the State Government shall collect, compile and analyse occupational safety and health statistics in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
- (2) The Central Government and the State Governments shall maintain the database or record, for inter-State migrant workers, electronically or otherwise in such portal and in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government:
- Provided that an inter-State migrant worker may register himself as an inter-State migrant worker on such portal on the basis of self-declaration and Aadhaar:
- Provided further that the workers who have migrated from one State to any other State and are self- employed in that other State may also register themselves on that portal.
- Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “Aadhaar” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (a) of section 2 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016).
Provisos, explanations & qualifications
- Provided that an inter-State migrant worker may register himself as an inter-State migrant worker on such portal on the basis of self-declaration and Aadhaar:
- Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “Aadhaar” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (a) of section 2 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016).
Thresholds and timelines in the text
- No explicit day/month/year/hour/percentage/rupee expression was detected in this section text.
Actors expressly appearing in the text
Worker, Central Government, State Government
Full statutory text — Section 21
21. Collection of statistics and portal for inter-State migrant workers.—(1) For the purposes of
this Code, the Central Government and the State Government shall collect, compile and analyse
occupational safety and health statistics in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
(2) The Central Government and the State Governments shall maintain the database or record, for
inter-State migrant workers, electronically or otherwise in such portal and in such form and manner as
may be prescribed by the Central Government:
Provided that an inter-State migrant worker may register himself as an inter-State migrant worker on
such portal on the basis of self-declaration and Aadhaar:
Provided further that the workers who have migrated from one State to any other State and are self-
employed in that other State may also register themselves on that portal.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “Aadhaar” shall have the same
meaning as assigned to it in clause (a) of section 2 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and
Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016).How to apply this provision
- Primary statutory test — (1) For the purposes of this Code, the Central Government and the State Government shall collect, compile and analyse occupational safety and health statistics in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
- Additional operative limb — (2) The Central Government and the State Governments shall maintain the database or record, for inter-State migrant workers, electronically or otherwise in such portal and in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government:
- Qualification / exception to test — Provided that an inter-State migrant worker may register himself as an inter-State migrant worker on such portal on the basis of self-declaration and Aadhaar:
- Central Rule mapping — 13. Read the mapped provision together with this text rather than treating the concordance as a substitute for it.
- Evidence file — retain facts and records proving the role/status of: Worker, Central Government, State Government.
Rules, forms and cross-references
Direct 2026 Central Rule mapping
Forms mapped
No prescribed form is directly mapped in the current concordance.
Other sections cited in this text
Related Labour Hub resources
A direct concordance is not exhaustive. Central/State jurisdiction, schemes, authority appointments, saved instruments and later notifications may change the practical route without changing the section wording.
Worked example
For an establishment affected by collection of statistics and portal for inter-state migrant workers, 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: “(1) For the purposes of this Code, the Central Government and the State Government shall collect, compile and analyse occupational safety and health statistics in such form and manner as may be prescribed.” Also test the express qualification/proviso before concluding the result. Read the mapped Central Rule(s) 13.
Illustration only; it is not statutory text or a substitute for applying the actual facts, jurisdiction, current rule/scheme and official instrument.
Q&A — Section 21
What does Section 21 of the OSHWC Code cover?
Section 21 — Governs collection of statistics and portal for inter-state migrant workers and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this section. Key operative text: (1) For the purposes of this Code, the Central Government and the State Government shall collect, compile and analyse occupational safety and health statistics in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
What is the main legal requirement or power in Section 21?
The first operative clause identified from the official text is: “(1) For the purposes of this Code, the Central Government and the State Government shall collect, compile and analyse occupational safety and health statistics in such form and manner as may be prescribed.” Read it with the remaining subsections and any proviso below.
Does Section 21 contain a proviso or explanation?
Yes. A qualification extracted from the official text is: “Provided that an inter-State migrant worker may register himself as an inter-State migrant worker on such portal on the basis of self-declaration and Aadhaar:”
What time limit, percentage or amount appears in Section 21?
No explicit day/month/year/hour/percentage/rupee expression was detected in the official section text.
Which 2026 Central Rules are linked to Section 21?
The current concordance maps Section 21 to Central Rule(s) 13.
Is Section 21 currently operative?
All provisions were brought into force from 21 November 2025 under S.O. 5321(E), subject to the Central/State appropriate-Government split and provision-specific appointments/notifications.
Source & verification trail
Act: Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 — official India Code PDF ↗
Central Rules: Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 — G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026 ↗
Official library: Ministry of Labour & Employment — Labour Codes ↗
Source check: 20 August 2026. Individual professional interpretation should be re-reviewed when the section, rules, notification, scheme, State overlay or controlling judgment changes.