How Can I Keep Salary From Being Public?

We are covered under Shops and Establishments Act, 1958.
Under this act, we are required to maintain salary register in Form C and Form D, which has a field of wage rate.
We have been maintaining the register as the law requires us to, but I feel that it is very dangerous if salary data is not kept secret. It can play a dangerously vital role in demotivating employees.
I am, however, unable to find out a mid way, where my company fulfills legal requirements too and the HR deptt is able to maintain the secrecy of the salary data. :?
Seniors, please help. :idea:
BRs
Harsh

I think if ur management does not hv any way out for this u can suggest them and u can also make keep them in safe custody.As being in the HR dept. salary is such an issue which needs to be kept safe.
If u are a new employee first know about the working of the managemnt and how the earlier HR people at your positions used to keep these data safe and then decide on as what to do.
Regards,
Rivti

Rivti,
I joined this company recently, as you correctlt guessed.
The management agrees to the fact that the data has to be kept secret, but so far, nothing has been done by any of my predecessor.
So now the problem is what is the way out? Because the register is in such a format that employees have an access to each other's salary data.
Is there a substitude to Form C and Form D?
Please suggest.

What does the REGISTER contain..........and why it is made PUBLIC.......Segregate the important and unimportant.....
Regards,
Rivti

It is in a prescribed format as stated by Shop and commercial establishment act. let me see if I can get the format on net. I would put it here.
All employees have to sign it and is therefore public. :(
BRs
Harsh

As per the provisions of the Shop and Establishment Act, you are required to maintain the salary register in the prescribed form. The prescribed register will have to be produced to the Shop and Establishment Inspector or such appropriate authority as the law requires. That does not mean that it is open for inspection to every one. Yes the co-employees will during the course of getting payments may get some information about salary of other staff too that is unavoid able, but that is not unhealthy. You see the law requires the maintaining the various registers/records etc so that employer maintain a true account of the payments and the employees don't suffer at the hands of unscrupulous employers and unwanted disputes between the employer and employee are avoided.This is the law of the land and we have no option but to fall in line.
DEEPAK THUKRAL
CHANDIGARH

Dear Harsh,
Who has access to the wage register? It should only be a couple of people in HR and Payroll who have access to this information.
Is there a need to make it more pubic?
Regards,
Aparna

Dear Aparna,
It is to be be signed by the employees everyday (FORM C), and at the end of every month at the time of salary (FORM D).
It is also not possible for only HR and payrolling team to have access to it and no others because we have stores not only in Chandigarh but other places too. So for employees to sign it, the register has to be available on site. And therefore, every one has an access to it.
Pl suggest any way out.
I feel stuck.
BRs
Harsh

Dear Deepak,
I do understand, that law requires us to maintain the register, but I still feel, it is dangerous and unhealthy for people to know each others' salary.
And hey Chandigarh......Where do you work?
BRs
Harsh

Hi All,
As i am new in HR, this is the first experience as HR, can any of u pls tell me dose the Form C and Form D is only made for Shop establishment?
can any one send the sample of Form C, Form D.
our is a Bangalore based telecom domain company we r into MSG solution, and we r just a beginner.
Thanks,
Anita