Occupational health is the branch of health care, mainly emphasizing preventive aspects which implied physical, mental and social well-being among workers. In developing countries like India, there was rapid industrialization which gives rise to employment in the unorganized sector or informal sector. The workers in this sector have a higher risk of occupational health and safety with no adequate protection likely to suffer from illness, accident, or death. COVID 19 pandemic lockdown and economic recessions might exacerbate pre-existing health inequalities. This will have a positive and negative impact on morbidity and mortality which differs in socioeconomic groups. Lockdown measures prevent them from air pollution and industrial accidents. As they have no access to medical care and income security, this pandemic leads them to unemployment which negatively influences mental health and physical health. COVID 19 likely causes a major impact on health and economic crisis, there is in need to reduce impact after lockdown measures by ensuring a safe environment.  The Ministry of Labour and employment of Govt of India have laid down basic infection control measures, workplace control measures, personal protective measures, and vaccination strategies. In spite, unorganized sector workers in developing countries fail to adhere to these control measures lead on to rapid transmission of COVID 19 and being at risk of other illnesses. So this paper aims to discuss the unorganized sector workforce, their health effects during a pandemic and existing strategies and reforms for their occupational health and safety.

Keywords: COVID 19, Occupational health, Unorganized sector, India