Holiday Inclusion Concerns: Can HR Be Questioned About Minority Festivals?

Hi, please refer me to the law related to holidays. Actually, one of my friend's employers has not included any of the festivals from a particular minority community to which he belongs. Can this be questioned with the respective HR of that firm? Any suggestions or advice?

Thank you.

Festival Holidays Under State Enactments

Festival holidays are granted or declared under either of the following state enactments:

1. Punjab Shops & Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, as applicable to the state of Haryana.
2. Punjab Industrial Establishment (National & Festival Holidays & Casual & Sick Leaves) Act, 1965, as applicable to the state of Haryana.

For establishments covered under the Factories Act, 1948, the second Act is applicable. Under this Act, we are to declare five festival holidays in consultation with the representatives of the workmen before the 30th of November for the forthcoming year. Thus, the concerned can approach the representatives of the workmen for their holidays. Under the Shops Act, no intervention is needed. Here, the employer is to grant five festival holidays of their own during the year, and no consent is required from the employees.

Regards,
R.N.KHOLA

[Welcome Skylark Associates](http://www.skylarkassociates.com/)

You can refer to the Negotiable Instruments Act - 1881 and the amendments made thereafter.

Holiday Entitlements

Eight paid holidays are to be given in a calendar year, including January 26th, May 1st, August 15th, October 2nd, Holi, Deepawali, Dussehra, and one local festival depending upon the population size in that locality.

Regards,
AK Jain