National Holidays on Sundays: Can They Be Compensated with Extra Festival Days?

Dear Fellow members,

Could you please clarify whether the National Holiday which falls on a Sunday can be compensated by announcing one more Festival holiday? Is it necessary (i.e., a minimum of 9 holidays)?

My colleague argues that the National holiday can't be compensated, regardless of the day it falls on. It has to be announced to observe that day by the workmen.

He adds that if all 4 National holidays fall on a Sunday, then we can announce only 5 Festival holidays. Could you please clarify?

Srinivasan.S

Hi Srinivasan,

As per the National and Festival Holidays Act, you cannot substitute a National Holiday with a Festival Holiday even if it falls on a Sunday. However, you can substitute a Festival Holiday with another Festival Holiday. You may please go through this particular Act for further details.

Regards,
PRADEEP

Dear Mr. Srinivasan,

This is Jeyaseelan working as an HR officer in Chennai. According to the NF Act, we are not required to compensate for holidays. However, most companies do practice compensating by adding an extra working day. This practice is aimed at building goodwill among employees. Anything beyond the statutory requirements will certainly enhance our reputation.

Regards,
Jeyaseelan A.
Email: jseelan_80@rediffmail.com

Hi,

As per the act, the company should provide 4 National Holidays and 5 festival holidays compulsorily. If a National holiday falls on a Sunday, there is no need to compensate. However, the company must provide any 5 festival holidays compulsorily, ensuring that festival holidays do not fall on a Sunday.

Regards,
Suthanthira Selvan

Dear Jayaseelan,

I have seen your post on the Cite HR. Can you please elaborate or provide supporting evidence from the act to state why we need not pay wages for Aug 15 as it fell on Sunday? Your reply will be highly helpful to shed light on this topic.

Regards, PT Ramesan 09360268477

Dear Suthanthira Selvan,

If possible, please clarify the NH and FH. It is compulsory for the company to provide 4 NH and 5 FH as per the Act. Is there any specification regarding the NH and FH in the Act? If yes, then which Act and in which section is it mentioned?

Regards,
Hitesh

Dear Srinivas,

No substitute holiday is given if any of the festival holidays initially declared subsequently happens to fall on a weekly off or any other non-working day, or in the event of more than one festival falling on the same day, as per the Central Government holiday policy.

It is not a must to give compensatory holiday for the NH that fell/falls on Sunday. It is purely management discretion.

A careful reading of the N & F Holiday Act says that 4 NH shall be declared on the dates mentioned without any other conditions. The same principle applies for Festival Holidays. Here, the management has to decide the days and dates in consultation with the union/worker's representative.

Srinivasan,

The number of holidays differs in different states. There is no replacement for national holidays, and they should be given mandatorily even if they fall on Sundays. However, in the case of festival holidays, we can replace the holiday that falls on a Sunday with another one that falls on any other day.

Regards,
Sen.