Is It Legal for Employers to Cut Down on Weekly Holidays? Seeking Guidance

Greetings Everyone! I have recently joined a company. It conducts surveys of roads, bridges, etc., using a Total Station Machine. The company had been providing Sundays as a holiday until now. However, an agreement is being prepared stating that the company will only provide three holidays in a month instead of four. I want to know if an employer is eligible to reduce holidays in this manner, and whether it is legal or illegal. What can an employee do in this matter? Please guide.

Thanks & Regards,
Joginder Kumar

Dear Joginder Kumar,

Your company cannot reduce the number of weekly off days as stipulated in a month. Any work conducted on holidays will result in payment at double the regular rate and may require a substituted leave, as per the regulations governing national and festival holidays in the state.

Thank you.

Dear colleague,

It is mandatory to give a day off after 6 days of work. You have no power to reduce the number of weekly offs, and if you do, it will be a blatant violation of the law and you will be liable for punishment as provided.

Vinayak Nagarkar HR Consultant

Weekly Offs and Legal Requirements

It is a service condition as well as a regulatory compulsion for the employer to provide a weekly off after every six working days, as mentioned by other members above. Under the Indian Factories Act and Shops & Establishments Act, it is mandatory to give weekly offs as stated. I presume that your company is registered under the Shop Act. Please refer to the provisions of the Shop Act in your state to familiarize yourself.

In case, due to exigencies of work, the employer is unable to provide the off, then the employee must be given compensatory off. The conditions for compensatory off are also specified in the Shop Act. The Act also outlines the punishment for employers in case of violations.

Warm Regards,

Bharat Gera
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy-Reasons]

It is mandatory to provide a weekly off. However, this can be extended for a maximum of 10 days during the month, but then the next weekly off should be within the next 4 days.

R R Kapoor
Vadodara