Our office has working hours from 9:30 to 6:30, and all Saturdays are working, but timings are 9:30 to 5 pm. Additionally, we keep half the salary of the employee for the first month, which is only returned after the completion of one year. Are these valid conditions for a Pvt Ltd company? Kindly explain.
From India, New Delhi
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From India, New Delhi
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Under the Delhi Shops and Establishment Act:
Section 8. Employment of adults, hours of work - No adult shall be employed or allowed to work about the business of an establishment for more than nine hours on any day or 48 hours in any week, and the occupier shall fix the daily periods of work accordingly.
So you are fine there. However, retention of wages is wrong both in the Shops Act and the Payment of Wages Act. For details.
From India, Kolkata
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180Section 8. Employment of adults, hours of work - No adult shall be employed or allowed to work about the business of an establishment for more than nine hours on any day or 48 hours in any week, and the occupier shall fix the daily periods of work accordingly.
So you are fine there. However, retention of wages is wrong both in the Shops Act and the Payment of Wages Act. For details.
From India, Kolkata
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This is a kind of employee retention strategy. Many companies are following such a strategy. Apparently, the company must have an agreement with the employee accepting the same before joining. Any verbal communication regarding withholding salary amounts will be null and void. However, any terms and conditions stand based on cordial relationships with each other.
From United Arab Emirates, Dubai
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From United Arab Emirates, Dubai
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Even if there are such terms and conditions, they are null and void being opposed to public policy.
From India, Kochi
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From India, Kochi
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Dear Puja,
The legality of retaining half a month's salary can be assessed depending on how it is communicated to the employee. Suppose, while issuing the appointment letter, it is mentioned that for the first month, the salary will be "X," and from the second month onwards, it will be "2X." In that case, I do not think that it can be questioned. This is because the terms and conditions of employment are specified in the appointment letter, and the employee accepted those. Therefore, grumbling at a later stage is not worthwhile.
Moving further, many employers communicate about the retention of 50% of the salary at the time of recruitment itself, and later they include this provision of deduction and disbursement after one year in the letter of appointment. Would any law prohibit doing this? As long as the minimum wages are paid in the first month, everything is fine!
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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The legality of retaining half a month's salary can be assessed depending on how it is communicated to the employee. Suppose, while issuing the appointment letter, it is mentioned that for the first month, the salary will be "X," and from the second month onwards, it will be "2X." In that case, I do not think that it can be questioned. This is because the terms and conditions of employment are specified in the appointment letter, and the employee accepted those. Therefore, grumbling at a later stage is not worthwhile.
Moving further, many employers communicate about the retention of 50% of the salary at the time of recruitment itself, and later they include this provision of deduction and disbursement after one year in the letter of appointment. Would any law prohibit doing this? As long as the minimum wages are paid in the first month, everything is fine!
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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Like these classes are never mentioned in the appointment letters. Moreover, in local shops and commercial establishments, appointment letters are never issued. Most do not maintain salary records on paper. A lump-sum amount is debited in account books under salary/wages heads without names. All of these are verbal agreements to retain the person only in case of the employer's satisfaction. If the employer is not satisfied, they can dismiss the employee, and it is at the mercy of the employer to provide the retained salary or not. The person may not take any action against the employer because there is no written agreement, and the name does not appear anywhere in the records. Therefore, the employee leaves the retained salary instead of facing legal implications, as dealing with legal matters would require time that may not be feasible for them.
In addition, you may notice that commercial establishments are open from 9:00 AM to late hours. Ask any employee whether they receive any compensation for working more than 8 hours. This constitutes the exploitation of workers, a situation that should be monitored by the labor department. However, it is often observed that officials from the labor department are off duty, sometimes seen shopping during working hours.
From India, Chandigarh
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In addition, you may notice that commercial establishments are open from 9:00 AM to late hours. Ask any employee whether they receive any compensation for working more than 8 hours. This constitutes the exploitation of workers, a situation that should be monitored by the labor department. However, it is often observed that officials from the labor department are off duty, sometimes seen shopping during working hours.
From India, Chandigarh
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(Fact Checked)-The user's reply contains accurate information regarding the lack of written agreements and issues with overtime compensation and exploitation of workers in commercial establishments. (1 Acknowledge point)
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Duration of work mentioned is not wrong. Regarding salary, as others have mentioned, it depends on what is stated in your offer or appointment letter. Additionally, if you are under training for the first month, there are terms and conditions that support this. Even if this information has not been directly communicated to you, if it has been documented in such a way that you have signed off on it during the recruitment process - because that is when you sign all the papers without reading them.
From India, Kochi
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From India, Kochi
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Dear Dinesh Diwakar,
Any retention and deduction, as you have described, is a violation of sections 6 and 7 of the Payment of Wages Act. Most of the Shop and Establishment Acts also provide similar rules. Whether communicated before or not, it is illegal. These laws are intended to prevent the exploitation of workers who can't stand up to employers.
The only way this would be allowed is if the appointment letter had only 50% of the salary mentioned as the actual salary and provided for a retention bonus of one year's salary upon completion of a year of service.
From India, Mumbai
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Any retention and deduction, as you have described, is a violation of sections 6 and 7 of the Payment of Wages Act. Most of the Shop and Establishment Acts also provide similar rules. Whether communicated before or not, it is illegal. These laws are intended to prevent the exploitation of workers who can't stand up to employers.
The only way this would be allowed is if the appointment letter had only 50% of the salary mentioned as the actual salary and provided for a retention bonus of one year's salary upon completion of a year of service.
From India, Mumbai
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(Fact Checked)-The information provided is accurate. It correctly highlights the violation of the Payment of Wages Act and the importance of adhering to legal requirements for employee salaries and deductions. (1 Acknowledge point)
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(Fact Checked)-The user's reply is [B]correct[/B]. There is legal protection for employees against terms that are against public policy. (1 Acknowledge point)