Is My HR Right About SEZ Rules Limiting Shift Allowance to 22 Days? Seeking Clarity

Hello All, I am not part of the HR team. I work for a company in Raheja, Hyderabad, which comes under SEZ. I have a team, and we work in three shifts, including Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays. We will be paid a shift allowance for working in shifts on working days. Along with the shift allowance, we will have a comp-off for working on Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays.

My Question:

My HR said, as per SEZ rules, shift allowance can be paid only for 22 days, not more (20 working days [as it's a 5-day working week] and with the grace period of 2 days making it 22 shift working days). On a few occasions, I have resources who will be working more than 22 days per month, and HR is raising a concern here regarding paying shift allowance for more than 22 days.

I searched for SEZ rules and the amendments, and I didn't find anything related mentioned in the documents. Of course, I am not 100% sure if I am searching in the correct place. I searched at Welcome To Andhra Pradesh Special Economic Zone (APSEZ). Could you please let me know if the above rule is correct?

Thanks,

Ranjit

There is no law on shift allowances and all; ask him which section states under SEZ. Please go through the attachment: [SEZ Act, 2005](http://sezindia.nic.in/writereaddata/pdf/SEZ%20Act,%202005.pdf).

Regards

I am of a different opinion. When HR/Management does not pay for more than 22 days, why would you want to work for more than 22 days? Is it a compulsion or nature of duty? Please elaborate.

What is the concern HR is raising? Is it "how can I pay more than 22 days"? Or "I should be paying more than 22 days"?

All labor laws of the country apply to SEZ units. There are no rules in SEZ that talk of salary, allowances, etc. So, I do not know where you got this rule. It is probably an internal rule the company has instituted. On the face of it, the rule is sound. If you are only working for 20 days a month and get comp off for working for the weekly off, how can you exceed the 22 days limit? I hope you are not computing the allowances for the weekly off when he has not come to work.

Thank you all for the replies. This issue has been resolved. Details below that may be helpful for someone:

There is no rule stating "22 days" for SEZ roles.

Thanks,

Ranjit