How Can Tamil Nadu Employers Adjust Weekly Offs During Power Holidays Without Breaking Labor Laws?

Sundar1959
Power Holiday and Weekly Off Adjustment in Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, TANGEDCO declared a Power Holiday in the state effective 1st March 2011 due to an acute power shortage.

My query is: can the power holidays scheduled (Monday to Saturday) in various areas be combined and converted into a "Weekly Off," so that Sunday can be declared a working day to ensure production does not suffer? Employer earnings, and subsequently employee earnings, depend on production output and meeting targets, etc.

Does the employer have the right to change the weekly off to align with the "power holiday"? If this is permissible, which authorities need to be informed as per the labor laws prevailing in Tamil Nadu?

Your expert opinion, please.

Regards,
B. Sundararaman
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malikjs
This power cut varies from Monday to Saturday depending on the region. Legally, you can declare a layoff for the day. However, you can change the weekly off by informing the Deputy Director of Factories or the Factory Inspector, whoever is competent. At the same time, I feel workers should get a weekly off within 10 days.

Regards
sumitk.saxena
Mr. Malik has rightly said that a weekly off can only be changed by informing the competent authority of the region. He mentioned that workers should get a day off within 10 days. I think the day off should be provided after six days of continuous working, and compensatory time off should be given after 10 days of continuous work.

Regards,
Sumit Kumar Saxena
mksharma@alfengineering.com
In my view, if it varies every week and the power holiday falls within 10 days, then there is no need to inform any authority since it has been clearly mentioned in the Act to observe the weekly holiday on the 11th day of working.

Regards,
Mukesh Sharma
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]
Debajit_Roy
The employer always has the right to make decisions. In your case, you did not mention whether your unit has a labor union.

Considerations for Labor Unions

If your manufacturing unit contains a labor union, then the management should give prior intimation of changing the weekly off. This is for your information.

Thanks
ramravind
Dear Seniors,

If you have a model letter describing the shortage of electricity in the company to employees and workers, please share your ideas and a sample for circulation in our plant.

Regards,
Ramravind
Sundar1959
Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply to me. The factory is situated in Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu. However, the "not welcomed news from the Industries" (maybe sad news) is that TANGEDCO has declared power holidays for two days - one from Monday to Saturday and another on Sundays throughout the state, from 6 am to 6 am (24 hrs).

Therefore, the possibility of changing the weekly schedule to align with the power holiday is being ruled out. TANGEDCO has stated that anyone violating this rule will face heavy penalties! All micro, small, and medium-scale industries are experiencing a significant financial crisis due to this power holiday, in addition to a daily 40% power cut and power restrictions between 6 pm to 10 pm.

Unless some drastic action is taken by the Central Government and accepted by the Government of Tamil Nadu as well, the Koodangulam Nuclear Power Plant, which is ready for commissioning, cannot be put into operation. If commissioned, Tamil Nadu can overcome the much-needed "power" (meaning electricity).

Regards,
Sundararaman
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