The Mines Act, 1952 is a core piece of Indian legislation enacted to regulate labor, working conditions, and safety in all mining operations. Enforced by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Act guarantees the health, safety, and welfare of mine workers.
Core Objectives:
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- Safety & Health: Mandates measures to prevent accidents, investigate hazards, and manage occupational health risks.
- Welfare Facilities: Ensures workers have access to drinking water, latrines, medical appliances, and shelters.
- Labor Regulation: Sets boundaries on working hours, prevents exploitation, and provides guidelines for leaves and wages.
Key Provisions:
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- Working Hours: Caps maximum working hours at (9) hours per day and (48) hours per week for surface workers, and (8) hours per day for underground workers.
- Age Restrictions: Prohibits the presence or employment of individuals under \(18\) years of age in a mine.
- Accident Reporting: Requires mine management to report serious injuries and fatal accidents immediately, with provisions for formal inquiries.
- Management Responsibilities: Every mine must be under the direct supervision of a qualified manager.
Applicability:
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- The Act covers all excavation operations—both underground and opencast—involved in the search for or extraction of minerals, including shafts, oil wells, workshops, and electricity power stations belonging to the mine
- The Mines Act, 1952 has been officially repealed and its provisions have been subsumed under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code, 2020. This change is a part of the Indian government’s broader labor law consolidation, though implementation is occurring in a phased manner across different states.
- The transition shifts several decades of mining regulations into a single modern framework. Important changes include:
- Consolidated Framework: The OSHWC Code groups 13 different labor laws into one, aiming to simplify compliance and safety tracking across the country.
- Updated Rules: Specific procedures have also been introduced to regulate hazardous conditions.