Noida: The district administration has directed all construction site owners employing 50 or more workers to set up crèche facilities within 15 days, citing provisions under Section 24 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH Code) and Rule 58 of the central rules notified in May 2026.District magistrate Medha Roopam said all sites meeting the threshold must comply within the stipulated period and inform the departments concerned once the facility is in place.The directive follows concerns about the safety of children at construction sites. A TOI report — ‘At Gzb rape-murder site, kids are on their own’ — on July 19, following the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl at a slum settlement near a mall construction site in Ghaziabad, highlighted how children at the site were being left unattended and vulnerable as their parents went to work from 9 am to 5.30 pm. The report found that migrant worker families living in makeshift settlements nearby had no access to supervised or safe spaces for their children and were often left under the supervision of an older child.As per the order, crèches must be located at places easily accessible to construction workers and employees and away from dust, smoke and other hazards associated with construction activity. “The facilities will have to be clean and hygienic, with adequate toilets, proper ventilation, sufficient lighting and access to safe drinking water,” said the DM.The notice issued by the DM makes it mandatory for every crèche to be headed by a woman. “All staff working at the facility must undergo police verification. Children enrolled at the creche must be provided adequate and nutritious food and snacks according to their needs. Arrangements for cleanliness and first aid must also be ensured,” read.
The DM said no child staying at the facility can be subjected to physical or mental punishment. “Creches must be covered by CCTV surveillance and maintain a register containing details of all children admitted to the facility,” she said.The administration has further directed construction companies to prominently display emergency and child-protection helpline numbers, including Dial 112 and 1098, along with the contact details of the fire officer, child protection officer and the nearest police station.The directives were issued under Rule 58 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, which mandates that all establishments and construction sites ordinarily employing 50 or more workers must provide and maintain an accessible crèche facility for children. Section 24 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH Code) also outlines the mandatory welfare facilities that employers must provide for workers in various establishments.
