Workplace health and safety law in Punjab and Sindh
Workplace safety law in Pakistan is set by each province. This guide explains the main laws in Punjab and Sindh and what they ask employers to do.
By OPDEV Legal Research Team. 3 November 2026.
Since the 18th Amendment in 2010, labour law in Pakistan has been a provincial matter. Each province now sets its own rules on workplace safety.
For most employers, two provincial laws matter most: the Sindh Occupational Safety and Health Act 2017 and the Punjab Occupational Safety and Health Act 2019. The Factories Act 1934 also still applies to factories.
The main laws
Sindh Occupational Safety and Health Act 2017: Sindh: Safety and health duties for workplaces in the province
Punjab Occupational Safety and Health Act 2019: Punjab: Safety and health duties for workplaces in the province
Factories Act 1934: Factories, through provincial law: Safety, health, welfare and working hours in factories
What employers are expected to do
- Identify hazards and assess the risks they create.
- Control those risks with safe equipment, safe systems of work and protective equipment.
- Give workers information, training and supervision.
- Consult workers on safety, often through a safety committee.
- Record and report accidents and dangerous incidents.
- Keep first aid and emergency arrangements in place.
Where companies often fall short
- Risk assessments are written once and never updated.
- Training is a one-off induction with no refresher.
- Contractors and daily-wage workers are left out.
- Near misses go unreported.
- Supervisors are unsure of their own legal duties.
Compliance starts on paper. Safety depends on what people do every day.
A simple compliance plan
- Confirm which provincial law applies to each of your sites.
- Review and update risk assessments for every main activity.
- Train supervisors on their duties and on leading safety conversations.
- Include contractors in inductions and toolbox talks.
- Set up simple reporting for accidents and near misses.
- Review the plan every year, or after any serious incident.
Common questions
### Do these laws apply to offices?
The provincial Acts cover most workplaces, not only factories. Check the definitions in your province's Act.
### Do we need a safety committee?
Both provincial Acts expect employers to consult workers on safety. Many workplaces do this through a safety committee.
### What about Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan?
Each has its own labour laws. Check the current rules with the relevant labour department.
### Does training help with compliance?
Yes. Both Acts expect workers to receive information and training, and trained supervisors make the other duties work in practice.
### Is this guide legal advice?
No. It is general information. For advice on your situation, speak to a lawyer.
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