Is It Fair or Legal for Employers to Make Us Work on National Holidays Like Independence Day?

Dear Sir,

My employer is making us work on Independence Day (15th August). He says if we don't come, he will cut salary for Sunday and Monday (both days). Please advise on what to do. Additionally, is it legal and moral to make people work on national holidays like Independence Day, Republic Day, and Labour Day? Please advise.

Thanks

National Holidays and Work Regulations

All organizations need to remain closed on the three national holidays. However, if an organization needs to operate on these days for some reason, they must obtain prior approval from the concerned authority. Employees working on these days are entitled to receive double wages, and some states have provisions for claiming compensatory leave.

The matter concerning national holidays falls under Central Legislation, although some states have made provisions for compensatory leave for workers who work on these holidays or for paying them double wages. You may refer to the National and Festival Holidays Act. Each state has its own Acts in this regard. The enforcing authority will be the State/Central Labour Department within which your company falls.

Regards

Apart from the above, the employer cannot force you to work on a national holiday. If they deduct your salary, you can legally claim it.

Employers have the right to open their firm on national holidays, and employees should be given the option to choose between double wages or a compensatory holiday with wages. No authorities can force an employer to close their firm.

Please let me know if you need further clarification or assistance.

Working on National Holidays

Independence Day is a national holiday and is typically a paid holiday. Normally, organizations remain closed on this day. However, certain essential goods and services providers or manufacturing organizations are allowed to remain open with government exemptions from closing on national holidays.

Employees can be required to work on such holidays but are compensated with overtime pay at prescribed rates or given a compensatory day off in lieu of the holiday for their attendance.

It depends on the nature of the job for which you have been called to work during a national holiday, which you have not mentioned in your query.

Regards