The Labour Department of the Government of West Bengal, vide notification dated September 15, 2023, issued guidelines under the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 for bonus dues to workers for Durga Puja, 2023. The aforementioned notification states:
1. The employers are expected to follow a flexible attitude on the issue of payment of bonus, keeping in view the need for maintenance of industrial peace and harmony.
2. Rate of bonus payable shall not be less than the bonus paid in the last year. Employers may also consider payment of an amount of ex-gratia in lieu of bonus as is admissible at the maximum stage., to workmen and employees who have crossed the eligibility limit.
3. All employees that have worked for at least 30 days in the previous year should be paid bonus.
4. Employers that have defaulted in the payment of bonus in the previous years, may make these payments in the present year along with the bonus for this year.
5. Trade unions and employers’ organisations are requested to cooperate in the peaceful and effective settlement of disputes concerning payment of bonus to avoid disruption of work.
6. The government has noted that in many cases, in previous years, employees of IT sectors, hotels and restaurants, security workers, shops and establishments and certain workers in jute mills have not been paid bonuses. The government hopes that this does not continue in the present year.
7. All payments of bonus should be complete by 06.10.2023, i.e., before commencement of Durga Puja, 2023 vide No. 1483(60) – F(P2) dated 28.03.2023 of Finance (Audit) Department.
8. The Government expects that all employers including the public sector undertakings will act according to this appeal.
9. The government also expects that all employers’ organisations will advise their constituents to act according to this appeal.
10. Most of the persons employed in the unorganized sector are not covered under the Payments of Bonus Act, 1965, as amended by the Payments of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2015 and do not get any bonus. The Government expects that the employers in such cases shall also pay bonus/ex-gratia to their workers by 06.10.2023, i.e., before the commencement of Durga Puja, 2023.
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