How Can We Help a Housekeeper's Family Get Unpaid Wages from a Contractor?

I am working with a manufacturing company. In my company, I have one lady working in housekeeping. Her financial condition is not good. Her husband worked with one of the contractors who hasn't paid him his salary for the last 2 months. The contractor promised to pay in the future, but then denied payment when they approached the HR person, who did not entertain the issue at all.

Seeking Advice on Unpaid Salary

So, what should she do now? How can she get her husband's 2-month payment?

Please suggest something.

Please call the worker who was engaged with the contractor and the contractor, and ask for the reason for denying the payment. If the payment was denied due to some theft or damage/loss caused by the worker, then you can decide as per your company norms as you will deduct the amount from his bill. Obviously, the contractor will deduct from the payment of the worker who caused the damage/loss.

Otherwise, if there is any misunderstanding, please clear it. Until the worker receives the payment, you can hold the cheque of the contractor and instruct the contractor to submit the paysheet of all the workers to your IR Department. Then, you can issue the cheque to the contractors.

Greetings, Suchita, In my view, it may not be appropriate for you to investigate the non-payment of wages to a person not connected with your company. Hence, you can advise the spouse of the housekeeping lady to approach the labor officer for the respective remedy in case the contractor refuses to release payment without proper justification, as explained by Mr. Bhaskar.

Regards

Liability of Principal Employer Under CLRA Act

As per Section 21(4) of the CLRA Act, if the contractor fails to give wages, the principal employer is liable for the same. The principal employer can recover it from the contractor's bill. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with the employer investigating the reasons for non-payment of wages.

Regards,
Varghese Mathew

As Suchitha has indicated, the lady's spouse worked with another contractor offering services in an organization different from the one she is working in. This was the reason I suggested to her that it may be inappropriate to launch an investigation.

Regards

Mr. Kannan has given an apt reply. The only thing the spouse of the lady employee can do is approach the concerned licensing authority with proper proof of employment (Muster Card/Identity Card).