ARTICLE · 22 OCTOBER 2021

Employment Corner Bulletin Volume 3 : August – September 2021

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The Government of West Bengal, vide a notification dated September 15, 2021, had issued guidelines wherein it had requested employers to make timely payments of bonus or any ex-gratia amount to its employees before the commencement of Durga Puja.

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STATUTORY UPDATES

Guidelines for payment of bonus to employees in West Bengal

The Government of West Bengal, vide a notification dated September 15, 2021, had issued guidelines wherein it had requested employers to make timely payments of bonus or any ex-gratia amount to its employees before the commencement of Durga Puja. Key aspects of these guidelines are as follows:

Employers, while taking note of statutory provisions under the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 ("Bonus Act"), should adopt a flexible attitude as regards payment of bonus.
Establishments where bonus was paid in the previous year are requested to ensure that the rate of bonus payable this year is not lower than that of last year. In case of any dispute, the same may be settled amicably through negotiations. Employers are also requested to consider payment of an ex-gratia amount in lieu of bonus to those employees who have crossed the eligibility threshold prescribed under the Bonus Act.

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