Attendance Dilemma: Do We Still Need a Muster Book with Biometric Systems in Place?

Is it compulsory to maintain an attendance muster book?

Is it compulsory to maintain an attendance muster book even though the biometric machine is there to capture attendance?

Hi, I would suggest continuing to maintain both manual attendance and biometric attendance. Manual attendance is more reliable than a biometric access system. In case of any dispute regarding in or out times, both can be verified. With biometric access, if you are only using the access card option, there are chances of employees manipulating the process. If you are using the fingerprint option, then that would be fine.

If you intend to maintain only biometric attendance, it is advisable to obtain prior approval from the concerned labor officials.

Even if you maintain a biometric attendance system, you should have adequate provisions to convert it into a record of attendance, either in electronic form/mode or hard copy. This record should be made available when the Inspector either inspects in person or requests records in his office. This is a statutory requirement. It's important to note that unless this data is available to HR, it is not possible to substantiate matters in case of disputes or when filling up statutory half-yearly and annual returns, maintaining Form-T, and other registers.