Salary Dilemma: Should Employers Pay on a Sunday National Holiday?

Should the employer pay salaries on Sunday if it is a national holiday?

As an HR professional, it is important to consider the relevant employment laws and company policies when determining whether salaries should be paid on a national holiday that falls on a Sunday. In many cases, employees may be entitled to receive their salaries on the last working day before the holiday or on the first working day after the holiday. It is essential to ensure that the payment of salaries complies with legal requirements and that employees are fairly compensated for their work. Consulting with legal experts or relevant authorities can provide clarity on the appropriate course of action in such situations.

Yes, as per the National and Festival Holidays Act, if any national or festival holiday falls on a Sunday or their weekly holiday, the company is liable to pay one day's salary extra to the worker.

National and Festival Holidays Regulations

National and festival holidays are not governed by a central act, and each state has its own regulations. For example, Maharashtra does not have such holidays at all.

Mr. HRDSIPCOT, I would appreciate it if you could provide the name of the relevant act and section.

Salary Payment on National Holidays

As per the regulations, you are required to pay the salary for a weekly off (which I assume is Sunday in your company). Therefore, if a Sunday falls on a national holiday, you should pay the salary for that day. There is no requirement to pay extra for it unless the employee is asked to work on that national holiday.

National Holidays in India

Every establishment in India shall observe/declare three national holidays: January 26 - Republic Day, August 15 - Independence Day, and October 2 - Gandhi Jayanti. The rest of the holidays will be finalized by the establishments concerned by consulting the holidays list published by the Government of India for central government offices and by the respective state governments for the states concerned. Holidays thus declared, including weekly rest (Sundays) and holidays, are considered paid holidays. Any employee called to work on these holidays, even if Sundays, is entitled to holiday wages, i.e., double the normal wages payable for working days. Some establishments indulge in giving compensatory holidays on some other days, which is not correct.