Model Standing Orders


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Industrial Employment (Standing Order) Rules, 1959 

SCHEDULE I

Rule 3


Model Standing Orders

A. For workmen doing manual or technical work
1. These Orders shall apply to all workmen
(b) ‘Manager’ means the person for the time being managing the establishment and includes any other officer duly authorised by the employer to act as manager such authorization being notified to the workmen by displaying it on the notice board of the establishment;
(c) ‘Proprietor’ means the person having ultimate control over the affairs of the establishment;
(d) ‘Ticket’ includes a card, pass or token.
3. (1) Workmen shall be classified as,-
(a) permanent workmen;
(b) probationers;
(c) ‘badlis’ or substitutes;
(d) temporary workmen;
(e) casual workmen; and
(f) apprentices.
(2) (a) ‘Permanent workman’ means a workman who has been employed on a permanent basis or who, having been employed as a badli or a temporary workman has subsequently been made permanent by an order in writing by the Manager or any person authorised by him in that behalf and of a permanent workman for the purpose of payment of wages to him, during the period he works on such post or in such vacancy.
(b) ‘Probationer’ means a workman who is provisionally employed to fill a permanent vacancy or post and who has not completed three months’ “uninterrupted” service in the aggregate in that post.
(c) ‘Badli” or ‘Substitute’ means a workman who is appointed to the post of a permanent workman or probationer, who is temporarily absent and whose name is entered in the badli register.
(d) ‘Temporary workman’ means a workman who has been appointed for a limited period for work which is of an essentially temporary nature and who is employed temporarily as an additional workman in connection with temporary increase in work of a permanent nature.
(e) ‘Casual workman’ means a workman who is employed for any work which is not incidental to, or connected with the main work of manufacturing process carried on in the establishment and which is essentially of a casual nature.
(f) ‘Apprentice’ means a workman who is a learner and who may or may not be paid an allowance during the period of his training:
Provided that no workman shall be classified as an apprentice if he has had training for an aggregate period of one year.
(g) ‘uninterrupted service’ includes service interrupted on account of any of the following reasons, namely:-
(i)Sickness, as certified by a doctor of Employees’ State Insurance Scheme where such scheme is applicable, or elsewhere by a Registered Medical Practitioner,
(ii)accident,
(iii)authorised leave.
(iv)lay-off as defined in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (XIV of 1947)
(v)strike which is not illegal,
(vi)Lock-out,
(vii)cessation of work which is not due to any fault of the workman concerned.
(viii)involuntary unemployment
4. If a permanent workman is employed as probationer in a new post, he may, at any time during the probationary period, be reverted to his old permanent post by an order in writing signed by the Manager.
4-A. Every probationer who has completed the period of three months uninterrupted service in the post in which he is provisionally employed shall be made permanent in that post by the Manager by an order in writing, within seven days from the date of completion of such service;
Provided that, where certified standing orders which prevail in the date of coming into force of this rule prescribe a longer probationary period than three months, the probationer shall complete such probationary period:
Provided further that, if the services of the probationer are found to be unsatisfactory, the Manager may terminate his services after his probationary period..
Explanation.-For the purposes of this clause, the probationery period shall not include any interrupted service and shall not be deemed to have been broken by such interrupted service.
4-B.(1) Wherever the badli system prevails the Manager shall maintain a register of badlis shiftwise containing the following particulars namely:-
(i) their names and addresses,
(ii) the nature of work or occupation in which they were employed;
(iii) the shifts in which they were working while in employment,
(iv) the wages paid to them during employment, and
(v) the dates of termination of their services.
The names of badlis who are found to be irregular in attendance or inefficient in work; may be removed from such register after giving them sufficient opportunity to improve.
(2) All temporary vacancies of permanent workmen shall be filled by appointing their badlis whose names are entered in the register maintained under sub-clause (1). such appointment shall be made on the basis of seniority-cum-regularity in attendance.
(3) In filling permanent vacancies in any class of occupation in the establishment, badlis who have worked in that class of occupation shall be given preference wherever they are employed. subject to clause 4-C, badlis appointed in such vacancies shall be made permanent on the basis of seniority-cum-regularity in attendance. Where badli system does not prevail, temporary workmen shall be given preference.
4.C. A badli or temporary workman who has put in 190 days’ uninterrupted service in the aggregate in any establishment of seasonal nature or 240 days “uninterrupted service” in the aggregate in any other establishment, during a period of preceding twelve calendar months, shall be made permanent in that establishment by order in writing signed by the Manager, or any person authorised in that behalf by the Manager, irrespective of whether or not his name is on the muster roll of the establishment throughout the period of the said twelve calendar months.
Explanation.-For purpose of this clause any period of interrupted service, caused by cessation of work which is not due to any fault of the workman concerned shall not be counted for the purpose of computing 190 days or 240 days, or, as the case may be, for making a badli or temporary workman permanent.
4.D. (1) The Manager shall maintain a waiting list of all temporary workmen whose services have been terminated on account of the completion of the work for which they were appointed or on account of the expiry of the period for which they were employed, containing the following particulars, namely:-
(i) their names and addresses,
(ii) the nature of work or occupation in which they were employed,
(iii) the wages paid to them during employment, and
(iv) the dates of termination of their services.
(2) Whenever any vacancies in the establishment are required to be filled, the persons included in the waiting list maintained under sub-clause (1) shall be given preference after taking into consideration the nature of work done by them while in employment or the occupation in which they were employed, and on the basis of the aggregate of their services in the establishment prior to the termination of their services.
No person whose name is not entered in the waiting list maintained under clause 4-D shall be appointed in the establishment badli or temporary workman, unless all person included in that list have been provided with employment in the establishment.
5. (1) For each class of workman specified in clause (1) of Standing Order 3, a distinctive ticket shall be provided bearing the name of the class.
(2) Every workman shall be given a ticket bearing.
(i) the name of the department in which he is working; and
(ii) his number.
(3) Every workman shall, when entering the establishment, deliver up his ticket at the place provided, and shall show his ticket whenever required (except when it is not in his possession by reason of having been so delivered) to any person authorised by Manager in this behalf.
(4) The days on which a ‘badli’ works in the establishment shall be entered on his ticket.
6. Notices showing the periods and hours of work for every class and group of workmen in the establishment and for each shift shall be displayed on notice-boards maintained for the purpose in the departments concerned and at the time-keeper’s office or at or near the main entrance of the establishment.
7. Notices specifying (a) the weekly holiday under Section 52 of the Factories Act, 1948, (b) the dates on which compensatory holidays, if any, under Section 53 of the Factories Act, 1948, will be allowed, and (c) the days on which wages are to be paid shall be displayed on the notice boards at the time-keeper’s office or at or near the main entrance of the establishment.
8. Notices specifying the rates of wages, showing separately the allowances, if any, payable to each class of workmen and for each class of work shall be displayed in a conspicuous position in the departments in which the workmen concerned are working.
9. (1) An unclaimed wages pay day for each week (i.e. a day on which wages due to a workman but not paid on the usual pay day on account of their being unclaimed, are to be paid) shall be notified on the notice-boards along with the notices to be displayed under Standing Order 7.
(2) The unclaimed amount of wages due to a workman shall be paid on the days notified under this standing order and on the unclaimed wages pay day following the date on which a substantiated claim was presented by the workman, or on his behalf, by his legal representative.
10. (1) (a) More than one shift may be worked in a department or section of a department at the discretion of the Manager.
(b) If more than one shift is worked in the establishment, workmen shall be liable to be transferred from one shift to another.
(c) whenever an additional shift is started or shifts are altered or discontinued, a seven-days’ notice shall be given to the workmen but if as a result of the discontinuance of the shift any permanent workman is likely to be discharged, a notice of one month shall be given
(d) If as a result of discontinuance of shift working, any permanent workmen are likely to be discharged, they shall be discharged having regard to the length of their service in the establishment and the department and the occupation concerned, those with the shortest term of service being discharged first.
(e) On re-starting a shift, notice thereof shall be given either in a newspaper having wide local circulation or by letters to individual workmen concerned; and the workmen discharged as a result of the discontinuance of the shift shall, if they present themselves within seven days of the publication of the notice or the posting of the letters, be given preference for employment department and the occupation concerned.
(2) The Manager may close down any department or section of a department after giving one month’s notice to the workmen. Before reopening such department or section, as the case may be, seven days’ notice thereof shall be given either in a newspaper having wide local circulation or by letters to individual workmen concerned.
(3) The Manager may close down the whole establishment after giving one month’s notice to the workmen. Seven days’ public notice of the re-starting of the establishment shall be given either in a newspaper having wide local circulation or by letters to individual workmen concerned.
(4) Notices of-
(i) starting, re-starting, alteration and discontinuance of shift working,
(ii) the closure and re-opening of a department or section of a department, and
(iii) the closure and re-opening of the establishment shall be displayed in the time-keeper’s office or at the main entrance to the establishment and the gate or gates appointed under the Standing order 16, and in the case of a department or section also in the department concerned.
(5) On the re-opening of a department or section or the establishment, as the case may be, preference for employment will be given to the workmen whose services were terminated on account of the closure according to the length of their service in the establishment and the department and the occupation concerned provided that they present themselves for service at the latest by the day of re-opening.
11. (1) All workmen shall be at work in the establishment at the time fixed and notified. workmen attending late shall be liable to shut out and treated as absent:
Provided that no workman who attends within 15 minutes of the starting time shall be shut out.
(2) Any workman, who after delivering his ticket is found absent from his proper place of work during working hours without permission or without sufficient reason, shall be liable to be treated as absent for the period of his absence.
12. Subject to the provisions of clause (1) of the Standing Order 13, leave with wages and allowances shall be granted to all workmen in accordance with the law applicable to the establishment in which such workmen are employed or any agreement, settlement or award for the time being in force, or the contract of service or any custom or usage of the establishment.
13. (1) Grant of leave to a workman shall depend on the exigencies of the establishment and shall be at the discretion of the Manager.
(2) A workman who desires to obtain leave of absence shall apply in writing to the Manager or any officer appointed for the purpose by the Manager. Such application for leave shall be made at least seven days before the date from which leave is to commence, except in urgent cases or unforeseen circumstances when it is not possible to do so. The manager or any office employed by him in this behalf shall issue orders on such application within three days of the presentation of the application and in cases of an urgent nature immediately,. If the leave of absence commences and the date on which the workman will have to resume duty shall be issued to the workman. where leave is refused or postponed, the fact of such refusal or postponement and the reasons therefor shall be recorded in writing in a register to be maintained for the purpose, and if the workman so desires a copy of such entry in the register shall be supplied to him.
(3) If a workman after proceeding on leave desires an extension thereof, he shall make an application for the purpose to the Manager, in writing. A written reply conveying the grant or refusal of extension of leave shall be sent to the workman at the address given by him if such reply is likely to reach him before the expiry of the leave originally granted to him.
(4) A workman remaining absent beyond the period of leave originally granted or subsequently extended, shall be liable to lose his lien on his appointment unless he returns within eight days of the expiry of the sanctioned leave and explains to the satisfaction of the authority granting leave his inability to resume his duty immediately on the expiry of his leave. A workman who loses his lien under the provisions of this Standing Order but reports for duty within fifteen days of the expiry of his leave (i) shall be kept as ‘badli’ if he so desires and his name shall thereupon be entered in the ‘badli’ register, and (ii) if no ‘badlis’ are employed, his name shall be kept on a waiting list of persons to be given preference for employment as and when suitable vacancies occur.
14 (1) Every workman shall be entitled to casual leave.
(2) Casual leave shall be non-cumulative and no leave of any kind may be combined with casual leave.
(3) Except for emergent reasons, casual leave shall be limited to three days at a time. Casual leave is intended to meet special or unforeseen circumstances for which provision cannot be made by exact rules.
(4) Holidays declared by the establishment and weekly holidays may be prefixed or suffixed to casual leave.
(5) Ordinarily, the previous permission of the Manager or of the head of the department shall be obtained before taking such leave. When this is not possible the Manager or the head of the department shall, as soon as may be practicable, be informed in writing or orally through any person of the absence from work and the probable duration of such absence.
15. Except in the case of casual workmen, a record shall be maintained in a register of all leave of absence which is sanctioned, refused or postponed and reasons for refusal or postponement shall in every case be entered therein. The record shall be open to inspection by the workmen concerned.
16. No workman shall enter or leave the premises of the establishment except by the gate or gates appointed for the purpose.
17. (1) Any workman may, when leaving the department or the premises or the establishment, be searched at the points of exit of the department or the establishment by the gateman or any person appointed by the Manager for the purpose.
(2) Any female worker may be detained by the gateman or any person appointed by the Manager for the purpose of search by a female searcher, if acting without malice he suspects that she is in wrongful possession of properly belonging to the establishment.
(3) Every search shall be conducted in the presence of not less than two persons and a female worker shall not be searched in the presence of any male person, except with her consent.
(4) Subject to the provisions of the above clauses, any member of a Works Committee constituted under the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, may be present at a search made under this Standing Order.
18. (1) In the event of a fire, catastrophe, breakdown of machinery, stoppage of power supply, an epidemic, civil, commotion or other cause beyond the control of the Manager, the Manager may, at any time without notice or compensation in lieu of notice stop any machine or department wholly or partially or the whole or part of the establishment for a reasonable period.
(2) In the event of a stoppage under clause (1) during working hours, the workmen affected shall be notified as soon as practicable, when work will be resumed and whether they are to remain or leave the establishment. The period of detention in the establishment shall not ordinarily exceed one hour after the commencement of the stoppage. If the period of detention does not exceed one hour, workmen so detained shall not be paid for such period. If the period of detention in the establishment exceeds one hour, workmen so detained shall be entitled to receive wages (including all allowances) for the whole of the time during which they are detained in the establishment as a result of the stoppage. In the case of piece-rate workmen the average daily earning for the previous months shall be taken to be the daily wages.
(3) Whenever practicable reasonable notice shall be given of the resumption of normal work, and all such workmen laid off under this Standing Order who present themselves for work, when work is resumed, shall be given preference for employment.
(4) All notices required to be given under this Standing Order shall be displayed on notice-boards at the time-keeper’s office and at the main entrance to the establishment. Where a notice pertains to a particular department or departments only, it shall be displayed in the department concerned.
19. In cases where workmen are laid off under Standing Order 18, they shall be considered as temporarily unemployed and the period of such unemployment shall be treated as leave with pay to the extent such leave is admissible and leave without pay for the balance of the period. When, however, workmen have to be laid off for an indefinite period exceeding two months their services may be terminated after giving them due notice or pay in lieu thereof..
20 Workmen may be laid off due to shortage of orders, temporary curtailment of production or similar reasons and consequent stoppage of any machine or department, for a period not exceeding six days in the aggregate (excluding statutory holidays), in any month, provided that seven days notice is given. A workman laid off under the Standing Order for more than five days in a month may, on being laid off, leave his employment on intimation of his intention to do so..
21. Notwithstanding anything contained in Standing Orders 18,19 and 20, the rights and liabilities of employers and workmen in so far as they relate to lay off shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Chapter V-A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947:
Provided that nothing contained in the said Chapter shall have effect to derogate from any right which a workman has under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, or any notification or order issued thereunder or any award for the time being in operation or any contract with the employer.
22. The manager may, in the event of a strike affecting either wholly or partially any section or department of the establishment close down either wholly or partially such section or department as well as any other sections or departments affected by such closing down. The fact of such closure shall, as soon as practicable, be notified by notice displayed on the notice-boards in the departments concerned, at the gate or gates appointed under Standing Order 16 and in the time-keeper’s office or at or near the main entrance of the establishment. The workmen concerned shall also be notified by general notice put up at the places where notices of closure mentioned above are to be displayed prior to the resumption of work as to when work will be resumed.
23 (1) Subject to the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the employment of a permanent workman employed on rates other than the monthly rate of wages may be terminated by giving him fourteen days’ notice or by payment of thirteen days’ wages (including all admissible allowance) in lieu of notice.
(2) Save as otherwise provided in these Standing Orders a permanent workman employed on rates other than the monthly rates of wages desirous of leaving the service may do so by giving the Manager fourteen days’ notice in writing.
(3) Where the employment of a workman is terminated under sub-rule(1) or where a workman leaves the service under sub-rule(2) and such workman draws wages on piece rate basis, wages shall be computed on the average daily earnings of such workman for the days he actually worked during the previous wage period.
(4) The employment of a permanent workman employed on the monthly rates of wages may be terminated by giving him on month’s notice or on payment of one month’s wages (including all admissible allowances) in lieu of notice.
(4-A) The reasons for the termination of service of a permanent workman shall be recorded in writing and communicated to him, if he so desires, at the time of discharge, unless such communication, in the opinion of the Manager, is likely, directly or indirectly, to lay any person open to civil of criminal proceedings at the instance of workman.
(5) Save as otherwise provided in these Standing Orders, a permanent workman employed on the monthly rates of wages, desirous of leaving the service shall give in writing one month’s notice to the Manager of his intention to do so.
(6) If a permanent workman leaves the service without giving notice no deduction on that account shall be made from his wages, but he shall be liable to be sued for damages.
(7) All classes of workmen other than those appointed on a permanent basis may leave their service or their service may be terminated without notice or pay in lieu of notice: provided that the services of a temporary workman shall not be terminated as a punishment unless he has been given an opportunity of explaining the charges of misconduct alleged against him in the manner prescribed in the Standing Order 25.
(8) When the employment of any workman is terminated, the wages earned by him shall be paid to him before the expiry of the second working day from the day on which his employment is terminated. In the case of workman leaving the service, the payment of the wages earned by him shall be made within seven days from the date on which he leaves the service. All other sums due to a workman shall be paid before the expiry of one month from the date of termination of his service or, as the case may be, from the date he left service.
(9) An order of termination of service shall be in writing and shall be signed by the Manager and copy whereof shall be supplied to the workman concerned. In cases of general retrenchment, closing down of departments or termination of service as a result of a strike, no such order shall be given.
24. The following acts and commissions on the part of a workman shall amount to misconduct:-
(a) wilful insubordination or disobedience, whether or not in combination with another, or any lawful and reasonable order of a superior;
(b) going on an illegal strike or abetting, inciting, instigating or acting in furtherance thereof;
(c) wilful slowing down in performance of work, or abetment or instigation thereof;
(d) theft, fraud or dishonesty in connection with the employers’ business or property or the theft or properly of another workman within the premises of the establishment;
(e) taking or giving bribes or any illegal gratification;
(f) habitual absence without leave, or absence without leave for more than ten consecutive days or overstaying the sanctioned leave without sufficient grounds or proper or satisfactory explanation;
(g) late attendance on not less than four occasions within a month;
(h) habitual breach of any Standing Order or any law applicable to the establishment or any rules made thereunder;
(i) collection without the permission of the Manager of any money within the premises of the establishment except as sanctioned by any law for the time being in force;
(j) engaging in trade within the premises of the establishment;
(k) drunkenness, riotous, disorderly or indecent behaviour on the premises of the establishment.
(l) commission of any act subversive of discipline or good behaviour on the premises of the establishment;
(m)habitual neglect of work, or gross or habitual negligence;
(n) habitual breach of any rules or instruction for the maintenance and running of any department, or the maintenance of the cleanliness of any portion of the establishment;
(o) habitual commission of any act or omission for which a fine may be imposed under the Payment of Wages Act, 1936;
(p) canvassing for union membership, or the collection of union dues within the premises of the establishment except in accordance with any law or with the permission of the Manager;
(q) wilful damage to work in process or to any property of the establishment;
(r) holding meeting inside the premises of the establishment without the previous permission of the Manager or except in accordance with the provisions of any law for the time being in force;
(s) disclosing to any unauthorised person any information in regard to the processes of the establishment which may come into the possession of the workman in the course of his work;
(t) gambling within the premises of the establishment;
(u) smoking or spitting on the premises of the establishment where it is prohibited by the employer;
(v) failure to observe safety instructions notified by the employer or interference with any safety device or equipment installed within the establishment;
(w) distributing or exhibiting within the premises of the establishment hand-bills, pamphlets, posters, and such other things or causing to be displayed by means of signs or writing or other visible representation on any matter without previous sanction of the Manager’
(x) refusal to accept a charge-sheet, order or other communication served in accordance with these Standing Order;
(y) unauthorised possession of any lethal weapon in the establishment;
(z) sexual harrasment which includes unwelcome sexual determined behaviour (whether directly or by implication) such as:-
(i) physical contact and advances; or
(ii) a demnad or request for sexual favours; or
(iii) sexually coloured remarks; or
(iv) showing pornography; or
(v) any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature
Explanation:-No act of misconduct which is committed on less than three occasions within a space of one year shall be treated as “habitual”.
25. (1) A workman guilty of misconduct may be,-
(a) warned or censured, or
(b) fined subject to and in accordance with the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, or
(c) suspended by an order in writing signed by the Manager for a period not exceeding four days, or
(d) dismissed without notice.
(2) No order under sub-clause (b) of clause (1) shall be made unless the workman concerned has been informed in writing of the alleged misconduct or given an opportunity to explain the circumstances allege against him.
(3) No order of dismissal under sub-clause (d) of clause (1) shall be made except after holding an enquiry against the workman concerned in respect of the alleged misconduct in the manner set forth in clause (4).
(4) A workman against whom an inquiry is proposed to be held shall be given a charge-sheet clearly setting forth the circumstances appearing against him and requiring his explanation. He shall be permitted to appear himself for defending him or shall be permitted to be defended by a workman working in the same department as himself or by any office-bearer of a trade union of which he is a member. Except for reasons to be recorded in writing by the officer holding the inquiry, the workman shall be permitted to produce witness in his defence and cross-examine any witness on whose evidence the charges rests. A concise summary of the evidence led on either side and the workman’s plea shall be recorded.
All proceedings of the inquiry shall be conducted in English, Hindi or Marathi according to the choice of the workman concerned and the person defending him.
The inquiry shall be completed within a period of three months:
Provided that the period of three months may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, be extended to such further period as may be deemed necessary by the enquiry officer.”
(5) A workman against whom any action is proposed to be taken under sub-clause (b), (c) or (d) of clause(1) may be suspended pending the inquiry or for the period, if any, allowed to him for giving his explanation. The order of suspension may take effect immediately on its communication to the workman.
(5-A) Subject to the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 a workman who is placed under suspension under sub-clause (5) shall, during the period of such suspension, be paid a subsistence allowance at the following rates namely:-
(i) For the first ninety days of the suspension period subsistence allowance to be paid per month shall be equal to one-half of basic wages, dearness allowance and other compensatory allowance to which the workman would have been entitled if he were on leave with wages.
(ii) If the enquiry gets prolonged and the workman continues to be under suspension for a period exceeding ninety days, the subsistence allowance to be paid per month for a further period of ninety days shall be equal to three-fourths of such basic wages, dearness allowance and other compensatory allowances.
(iii) If the enquiry is not completed within a period for 180 days, the workman shall be paid basic wages, dearness allowance and other compensatory allowance in full as subsistence allowance to be paid per month until such time as the inquiry is finally concluded:
Provided that, where the findings of the Inquiry Officer show that such inquiry is prolonged beyond a period of 90 days, or as the case may be 180 days, for reasons directly attributable to the workman, subsistence allowance to be paid per month shall for the period exceeding 90 days or, as the case may be 180 days, shall be reduced to one-half of such basic wages, dearness allowance and other compensatory allowance.
(iv) If as a result of the inquiry held or explanation tendered, it is decided not to take any action against the workman under clause (1) the workman shall be deemed to have been on duty and shall be entitled to full wages minus such subsistence allowance as he may have already drawn and to all other privileges for the full period of suspension.
(5-B) The payment of subsistence allowance under sub-clause (5-A) shall be subject to the workman concerned not taking up any employment during the period of suspension.
(6) In awarding punishment under this Standing Order the Manager shall take into account the gravity of the misconduct, the previous record, if any, of the workman and any other extenuating or aggravating circumstances that may exist.
(7) If a workman refuses to accept a charge-sheet, order or other communication served in accordance with these Standing Orders, and provided that he has been asked to accept the charge-sheet in the presence of at least two witnesses he shall be told verbally the time and place at which the enquiry into his alleged misconduct is to be held and if he refuses or fails to attend at that time, the inquiry shall be conducted exparte and the punishment awarded shall take account of misconduct under Standing Order 24 thus committed.
26. A workman may be warned or censured, or subject to and in accordance with the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, fined for any of the following acts and omission:-
(a) absence without leave without sufficient cause;
(b) late attendance;
(c) negligence in performing duties;
(d) neglect of work;
(e) absence without leave or without sufficient cause from the appointed place of work.
(f) entering or leaving or attempting to enter or leave the premises of the establishment except by a gate or entrance appointed;
(g) committing nuisance on the premises of the establishment;
(h) breach of any rule or instruction for maintenance or running of any department.
27. The age for retirement or superannuation of the workmen may be sixty years or such other age as may be agreed upon between the employer and the workmen by any agreement, settlement or award which may be binding on the employer and the workmen under any law for the time being in force.
27-A Where an employer orders a medical examination of workman or a person desiring to be recruited as his workman under any law, contract, custom or usage applicable to his industrial establishment or under any award, agreement or settlement binding on the employer and the workman in his industrial establishment, such examination in the case of a female shall be made only by a lady doctor; and the expenses of such examination shall be borne by the employer.
28. (1) Any workman desirous of the redress of a grievance arising out of his employment or relating to unfair treatment or wrongful exaction on the part of a superior shall either himself or through a trade union of which he is a member, submit a complaint to the Manager in this behalf.
(2) The Manager or any such officer shall personally investigate the complaint at such times and places as he may fix. The workman and-
(i) any other workman of his choice, or
(ii) where the complaint is made through a trade union, a member of the union shall have the right to be present at such investigation. Where the complaint alleges unfair treatment or wrongful exaction on the part of a superior, a copy of the order finally made by the Manager shall be supplied to the complainant if he asks for one. In other cases the decision of the investigating officer and the action, if any, taken thereon by the Manager shall be intimated to the complainant:
Provided that complaints relating to assault or abuse by any persons holding a supervisory position or refusal of an application for urgent leave shall be enquired into immediately by the Manager or such other officer or officers as he may appoint.
29. The decision of the manager upon any question arising out of, or in connection with, or incidental to these Standing Orders shall be subject to an appeal to the managing agent.
30. Every workman other than a casual workman who leaves service or retires, or is dismissed or discharged shall without avoidable delay be given a service certificate if he asks for one.
31 (a) Notice to be exhibited or given under these Standing Orders shall be in English and also in the principal regional language of the district in which the establishment situated.
(b) (i) Any notice, order, charge-sheet communication or intimation which is personal, i.e. is meant for an individual workman and is given in writing under these Standing Orders, shall be in the language understood by the workman concerned.
(ii) Before such a notice, order, charge-sheet communication or intimation is handed over to the workman it shall be read out and explained to him if he so desires.
32. Nothing contained in these Standing Orders shall operate in derogation of any law for the time being in force or to the prejudice of any right under a contract of service, custom or usage or an agreement, settlement or award applicable to the establishment.
B. For workmen employed on Clerical or supervisory work.
1. These Orders shall apply to all workmen employed in the establishment to do clerical or supervisory work.
2. In these Orders unless the context requires otherwise-
(a) ‘Workman’ means a workman employed to do clerical or supervisory work;
(b) The ‘establishment’ means.......
(c) “Manager’ means the person for the time being managing the establishment, and includes, any other officer duly authorised by the employer to act as Manager on his behalf such authorisation being notified to the workmen by displaying it on the notice-board of the establishment.
3. (1) Workmen shall be classified as-
(a) permanent workmen;
(b) probationers;
(c) temporary workmen; and
(d) part-time workmen.
(2) (a) ‘permanent workman’ means a workman who has been employed on a permanent basis or who, having been employed on a temporary basis has subsequently been made permanent by an order in writing by the manager or any person authorised by him in that behalf and includes the apprentice who is asked or appointed to work in the post or vacancy of a permanent workman for the purpose of payment of wages to him, during the period, he works on such post or in such vacancy”.
(b) ‘’probationer’ means a workman who is provisionally employed to fill a permanent vacancy or post and who has not completed three months’ a uninterrupted service in the aggregate in a clerical or supervisory post in the establishment;
(c) ‘temporary workman’ means a workman who has been appointed for a limited period for work which is of an essentially temporary nature, or who is employed temporarily as an additional workman in connection with temporary increase in work of a permanent nature and includes a workman who is appointed in a temporary vacancy of a permanent workman of probationer;
(d) ‘part-time workman’ means a workman who is employed to do work for less than the normal period of working hours;
(e) ‘uninterrupted service’ includes service interrupted on account of any of the following reasons, namely:-
(i)sickness, as certified by a doctor of Employees’ State Insurance Scheme, where such scheme is application or, elsewhere , by a Registered Medical Practitioner.
(ii) accident,
(iii) authorised leave.
(iv) lay-off as defined in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (XIV of 1947),
(v) involuntary unemployment,
(vi) lock-out,
(vii) cessation of work which is not due to any fault of the workman concerned.
4. Every workman at the time of his appointment, confirmation, promotion or re-classification shall be given a written order specifying his appointment, confirmation, promotion or re-classification, as the case may be, and signed by the Manager.
4-A.Every probationer who has completed the period of three months’ un-interrupted service in the post in which he is provisionally employed shall be made permanent in that post by the Manager by an order in writing, within seven days from the date of completion of such service:
Provided that where certified standing orders prevailing on the date of coming into force of this rule prescribe a longer probationary period than three months, the probationer shall complete such probationary period:
Provided further that, if the services of the probationer are found to be unsatisfactory, the Manager may terminate his services after his probationary period.
Explanation-For the purpose of this clause, the probationary period shall not include any interrupted service and shall not be deemed to have been broken by such interrupted service
4-B. A temporary workman, who has put in 190 days’ uninterrupted service in the aggregate in any establishment of a seasonal nature or 240 days, interrupted service in the aggregate in any other establishment, during a period of preceding twelve calendar months, shall be made permanent in that establishment by an order in writing signed by the Manager, or any person authorised in that behalf by the Manager, irrespective of whether or not his name is on the muster roll of the establishment throughout the period of the said twelve calendar months.
Explanation.- For purpose of this clause nay period of interrupted service, caused by cessation of work which is not due to any fault of the workman concerned, shall not be counted for the purpose of computing 190 days or 240 days or as the case may be, for making a badli or temporary workman permanent.
4-C. (1)The manager shall maintain a waiting list of all temporary workmen whose services have been terminate on account of the completion of the work for which they were appointed or on account of the expiry of the period for which they were employed, containing the following particulars namely:-
(i) their names and addresses,
(ii) the nature of work or occupation in which they were employed,
(iii) the wages paid to them during employment, and
(iv) the dates of termination of their services.
(2) Whenever any vacancies in the establishment are required to be filled the persons included in the waiting list maintained under sub-clause (1) shall be given preference after taking into consideration the nature of work done by them while in employment or the occupation in which they were employed and on the basis of the aggregate of their services in the establishment prior to the termination of their services.
4-D No person whose name is not entered in the waiting list maintained under Clause 4-C shall be appointed in the establishment as temporary workman, unless all persons included in that list have been provided with employment in the establishment.
5. (a) Notices showing the periods and hours of work for every class and group of workman in the establishment and for each shift shall be displayed on notice-boards maintained for the purpose in the departments concerned at the time-keeper’s office or at or near the main entrance of the establishment.
(b) Any workman required to work for a different period shall be notified to that effect at the least on the day previous to that on which he is required to work for such different period.
6. (1) Notices specifying (i) the weekly holiday, (ii) the dates on which compensatory holidays, if any, will be allowed, and (iii) the days on which wages are to be paid, shall be displayed on the notice-boards maintained for purpose at the time-keeper’s office or at or near the main entrance of the establishment.
(2) Any workman required to work on a weekly holiday in accordance with law shall be personally notified to that effect in advance. The workman deprived of any of the holidays notified under clause (1) as a result of his working on such holidays shall be allowed, as soon as circumstances permit and at the discretion of the Manager, compensatory holidays equal in number to the holidays so lost.
7. A register specifying basic starting salary, grades and scales of pay, if any, for each class of workmen and for each class of work shall be maintained and be open to inspection on two working days in each month to be notified by the Manager.
8. (1) (a) More than one shift may be worked in a department or section of a department at the discretion of the Manager.
(b) If more than one shift is worked in the establishment the workman shall be liable to be transferred from one shift to another.
(c) Whenever an additional shift is started or shifts are altered or discontinued, a seven days’ notice shall be given, but if as a result of the discontinuance of the shift any permanent workman is likely to be discharged a notice of one month will be given. After giving one month’s notice to the workmen, seven days’ public notice of the re-starting of the establishment shall be given either in a newspaper having wide local circulation or by letters to individual concerned
(d) If as a result of discontinuance of shift working any permanent workmen are likely to be discharged they shall be discharged having regard to the length of their service in the establishment and the department and the occupation concerned, those with the shortest term of service being discharged first.
(e) On re-starting a shift, notice thereof shall be given either in a newspaper having wide local circulation or by letters to individual workmen concerned; and the workmen discharged as a result of the discontinuance of the shift shall, if they present themselves, within seven days of the publication of the notice or the posting of the letters, be given preference for employment according to their length of service in the establishment and the department and the occupation concerned.
(2) The Manager may close down any department or section of a department after giving one month’s notice to the workmen. Before reopening such department or section, as the case may be, seven days’ notice thereof shall be given either in a newspaper having wide local circulation or by letters to individual workmen concerned.
(3) The Manager may close down the whole establishment.
(4) Notices of-
(i) starting, re-staring alteration and discontinuance of shift working.
(ii) the closure and re-opening of a department or section of a department, and
(iii) the closure and re-opening of the establishment shall be displayed in the time-keeper’s office or at the main entrance to the establishment and at the gate or gates appointed under Standing Order 18, and in the case of a department or section also in the department concerned.
(5) On the re-opening of a department or section or the establishment as the case may be, preference for employment will be given to the workmen whose services were terminated on account of the closure of the length of their service in the establishment and the department and the occupation concerned, provided that they present themselves for service at the latest by the day of reopening.
9. (1) All workmen shall be at work in the establishment at the times fixed and notified. Workmen attending late shall be liable to be shut out and treated as absent.
Provided that no workman who attends within 15 minutes of the starting time shall be shut out.
(2) Any workman who is found absent from his proper place of work during working hours without permission or without sufficient reason shall be liable to be treated as absent for the period of his absence.
10. Subject to the provisions of Clause (1) of the Standing Order 11,-
(a) weekly holidays, where admissible, shall be allowed on full wages (including admissible allowance);
(b) leave with wages and allowances shall be granted to all workmen in accordance with the law applicable to the establishment in which such workmen are employed or any agreement, settlement or award for the time being in force or the contract of service or any custom or usage of the establishment.
11. (1) Grant of leave to a workman shall depend on the exigencies of the establishment and shall be at the discretion of the Manager.
(2) The Manager may require a workman applying for sick leave to produce a medical certificate in support of his application from a registered medical practitioner, a registered “vaid” or a registered “hakim” and where practicable may require the applicant to be examined by the Medical Officer appointed for the purpose.
12. Sick leave, if due, shall be granted in continuation of maternity leave for female workers subject to the provisions of Clause (2) of Standing Order 11.
13. Leave without pay may at the discretion of the manager in special circumstances be granted to a workman when no other leave of any kind is due.
14. Subject to the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948, all holidays, including the weekly holidays, falling within the period of any kind of leave, shall be treated as leave.
15. (1) Workman who desires to obtain leave of absence other than casual leave or sick leave, shall apply in writing to the manager or any officer appointed for the purpose by the Manager. such application for leave shall normally be made at least one month before the date from which the leave is to commence, except in urgent cases or unforeseen circumstances when it is not possible to do so.
(2) If a workman after proceeding on leave desires an extension thereof, he shall make an application in writing to the Manager. A written reply either of the grant or refusal of extension of leave shall be sent to him at the address given by him if such reply is likely to reach him before the expiry of the leave originally granted to him.
16. (1) Every workman shall be entitled to casual leave.
(2) Casual leave shall be non-cumulative and no leave of any kind may be combined with causal leave.
(3) Except for emergent reasons, causal leave shall be limited to three days at a time. Casual leave is intended to meet special or unforeseen circumstances for which provisions cannot be made by exact rules.
(4) Holidays declared by the establishment and weekly holidays may be prefixed or suffixed to casual leave.
(5) Ordinarily, the previous permission of the Manager or of the head of the department shall be obtained before taking such leave. When this is not possible, the Manager or the head of the department shall as soon as may be practicable, be informed in writing or orally through any person of the absence from work and of the probable duration of such absence.
17. A record shall be maintained in a register of all leave of absence which is sanctioned, refused or postponed, and reasons for refusal or postponement shall in every case be entered therein. the record shall be open to inspection by the workman concerned.
18. No workman shall enter or leave the premises of the establishment except by the entrances appointed for the purpose.
19. (1) Any workman may, when leaving the premises of the establishment be searched at the point of exit by an officer appointed for the purpose by the Manager.
(2) Any female worker may be detained by such officer for search by a female searcher, if acting without malice he suspects that she is in wrongful possession of property belonging to the establishment.
(3) Every search shall be conducted in the presence of not less than two persons, and a female worker shall not be searched in the presence of any male person, except with her consent.
(4) Subject to the provisions of the above clauses, any member of a Works Committee constituted under the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, may be present at a search made under this Standing Order.
19-A.(i) In the event of fire, catastrophe, breakdown of machinery, stoppage of power supply, an epidemic, civil commotion or other cause beyond the control of the Manager, the Manager may at any time without notice or compensation in lieu of notice, stop any machine or department wholly or partially or the whole or part of the establishment for a reasonable period.
(2) In the event of a stoppage under clause (1) during working hours, the workmen affected shall be notified as soon as practicable, when work will be resumed and whether they are to remain or leave the establishment. the period of detention in the establishment shall not ordinarily exceed one hour after the commencement of stoppage. If the period of detention does not exceed one hour, workmen so detained shall not be paid for such period. If the period of detention in the establishment exceeds one hour, workmen so detained shall be entitled to received wages (including all allowances) for the whole of the time during which they are detained in establishment as a result of the stoppage. In the case of piece-rate workmen the average daily earnings for the previous month shall be taken to be the daily wages.
(3) Wherever practicable, reasonable notice shall be given of the resumption of normal work, and all such workmen laid off under this Standing Order who present themselves for work when work is resumed shall be given preference for employment.
(4) All notices required to be given under this Standing Order shall be displayed on notice-boards at the time-keeper’s office and at the main entrance to the establishment. Where a notice pertains to a particular department or departments only, it shall also be displayed in the department concerned.
19-B.In cases where workmen are laid off under Standing Order 19-A, they shall be considered as temporary unemployed and the period of such unemployment shall be treated as leave with pay to the extend such leave is admissible and leave without pay for the balance of the period. When however, workmen have to be laid off for an indefinite period exceeding two months, their services may be terminated after giving them due notice or pay in lieu thereof.
19-C Workmen may be laid off due to shortage of orders, temporary curtailment of production or similar reasons and consequent stoppage of any machine or department, for a period not exceeding six days in the aggregate (excluding statutory holidays), in any month provided that seven days’ notice is given. a workman laid off, leave his employment on intimation of his intention to do so.
19-D Notwithstanding anything contained in Standing Orders 19-A, 19-B, and 19-C, the rights and liabilities of employers and workmen in so far as they relate to lay-off shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Chapter V-A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947:
Provided that nothing contained in the said Chapter shall have effect to derogate from any right which a workman has under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, or any notification or order issued thereunder or any award for the time being in operation or any contract with the employer.
19-E The Manager may, in the event of a strike affecting either wholly or partially, any section or department of the establishment close down either wholly or partially such section or department as well as any other sections or departments affected by such closing down. the fact of such closure shall as soon as practicable, be notified by notice displayed on the notice-boards in the departments concerned, at the gate or gates appointed under standing Order 18 and in the time keeper’s office or at or near the main entrance of the establishment. the workmen concerned shall also be notified by a general notice put up at the place where notices of closure mentioned above are to be displayed, prior to the resumption of work as to when work will be resumed.
20. In the event of the closure of the establishment or a department or part thereof, if the service of a permanent workman are dispensed with, he shall when the establishment or part thereof, as the case may be, is re-started be given an opportunity to serve in a post substantially similar in pay and status to the post he was holding at the time of the closure, provided he reports for duty within the time specified in the relevant Standing Orders governing the re-staring in question.
21. (1) The employment of a permanent workman may be terminated by one month’s notice or on payment of one month’s wages (including all allowances), in lieu of notice.
(2) The reasons for the termination of service of a permanent workman shall be recorded in writing and shall be recorded in writing and shall be communicated to him, if he so desires, at the time of discharge, unless such communication, in the opinion of the Manager, is likely, directly or indirectly to lay any person open to civil or criminal proceedings at the instance of the workman.
(3) Any permanent workman desirous of leaving service shall give one month’s notice in writing to the Manage. He shall , when he leaves the service, be given an order of relief signed by the Manager.
(4) If any permanent workman leaves the service without giving notice, no deduction on that account shall be made from his wages but he shall be liable to be sued for damages.
(5) All classes of workmen other than those appointed on a permanent basis may leave their services or their services may be terminated without notice or pay in lieu of notice; provided that the service of a temporary workman shall not be terminated as a punishment unless he has been given an opportunity of explaining the charges of misconduct alleged against him in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 23.
(6) Where the employment of any workman is terminated, the wages earned by him shall be paid to him before the expiry of the second working-day from the day on which his employment is terminated. In the case of workman leaving the service the payment of the wages earned by him shall be made within seven days from the date on which he leaves the service. All other sums due to a workman shall be paid before the expiry of one month from the date of termination of his services or from the date he leaves the service.
(7) An order relating to discharge or termination of service shall be in writing and shall be signed by the Manager. a copy of such order shall be supplied to the workman concerned. In cases of general retrenchment, closing down, strike or loci-out no such orders may be given.
22. Any of the following acts or omissions on the part of a workman shall amount to misconduct:-
(a) wilful insubordination or disobedience, whether or not in combination with another, of any lawful and reasonable order of superior;
(b) going on an illegal strike or abeting, inciting, instigating or acting in furtherance thereof;
(c) wilful slowing down in performance of work, or abetment or instigation thereof.
(d) theft, fraud, or dishonesty in connection with the employer’s business or property: of another workman within the premises of the establishment;
(e) taking or giving bribes or any illegal gratification;
(f) habitual absence without leave, or absence without leave for more than ten consecutive days or overstaying the sanctioned leave without sufficient grounds or proper or satisfactory explanation;
(g) late attendance on not less than four occasions within a month;
(h) habitual breach of any Standing Order or any law applicable to the establishment or any rules made thereunder;
(i) collection without the permission of the Manager of any money within the premises of the establishment except as sanctioned by any law for the time being in force;
(j) engaging in trade within the premises of the establishment;
(k) drunkenness, riotous, disorderly or indecent behaviour on the premises of the establishment.
(l) commission of any act subversive of discipline or good behaviour on the premises of the establishment;
(m)habitual neglect of work, or gross or habitual negligence;
(n) habitual breach of any rules or instruction for the maintenance and running of any department, or the maintenance of the cleanliness of any portion of the establishment;
(o) habitual commission of any act or omission for which a fine may be imposed under the Payment of Wages Act, 1936;
(p) canvassing for union membership, or the collection of union dues within the premises of the establishment except in accordance with any law or with the permission of the Manager;
(q) wilful damage to work in process or to any property of the establishment;
(r) holding meeting inside the premises of the establishment without the previous permission of the Manager or except in accordance with the provisions of any law for the time being in force;
(s) disclosing to any unauthorised person any information in regard to the processes of the establishment which may come into the possession of the workman in the course of his work;
(t) gambling within the premises of the establishment;
(u) smoking or spitting on the premises of the establishment where it is prohibited by the employer;
(v) failure to observe safety instructions notified by the employer or interference with any safety device or equipment installed within the establishment;
(w) distributing or exhibiting within the premises of the establishment hand-bills, pamphlets, posters, and such other things or causing to be displayed by means of signs or writing or other visible representation on any matter without previous sanction of the Manager’
(x) refusal to accept a charge-sheet, order or other communication served in accordance with these Standing Order;
(y) unauthorised possession of any lethal weapon in the establishment
(z) sexual harrasment which includes unwelcome sexual determined behaviour (whether directly or by implication) such as:-
(i) physical contact and advances; or
(ii) a demnad or request for sexual favours; or
(iii) sexually coloured remarks; or
(iv) showing pornography; or
(v) any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature
Explanation:-No act of misconduct which is committed on less than three occasions within a space of one year shall be treated as “habitual”.
23. (1) A workman guilty of misconduct may be,-
(a) warned or censured, or
(b) fined subject to and in accordance with the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, or
(c) suspended by an order in writing signed by the Manager for a period not exceeding four days, or
(d) dismissed without notice.
(2) No order under sub-clause (b) of clause (1) shall be made unless the workman concerned has been informed in writing of the alleged misconduct or given an opportunity to explain the circumstances allege against him.
(3) No order of dismissal under sub-clause (d) of clause (1) shall be made except after holding an enquiry against the workman concerned in respect of the alleged misconduct in the manner set forth in clause (4).
(4) A workman against whom an inquiry is proposed to be held shall be given a charge-sheet clearly setting forth the circumstances appearing against him and requiring his explanation. He shall be permitted to appear himself for defending him or shall be permitted to be defended by a workman working in the same department as himself or by any office-bearer of a trade union of which he is a member. Except for reasons to be recorded in writing by the officer holding the inquiry, the workman shall be permitted to produce witness in his defence and cross-examine any witness on whose evidence the charges rests. A concise summary of the evidence led on either side and the workman’s plea shall be recorded.
All proceedings of the inquiry shall be conducted in English, Hindi or Marathi according to the choice of the workman concerned and the person defending him.
The inquiry shall be completed within a period of three months:
Provided that the period of three months may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, be extended to such further period as may be deemed necessary by the enquiry officer.”
(5) A workman against whom any action is proposed to be taken under sub-clause (b), (c) or (d) of clause(1) may be suspended pending the inquiry or for the period, if any, allowed to him for giving his explanation. The order of suspension may take effect immediately on its communication to the workman.
(5-A) Subject to the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 a workman who is placed under suspension under sub-clause (5) shall, during the period of such suspension, be paid a subsistence allowance at the following rates namely:-
(i) For the first ninety days of the suspension period subsistence allowance to be paid per month shall be equal to one-half of basic wages, dearness allowance and other compensatory allowance to which the workman would have been entitled if he were on leave with wages.
(ii) If the enquiry gets prolonged and the workman continues to be under suspension for a period exceeding ninety days, the subsistence allowance to be paid per month for a further period of ninety days shall be equal to three-fourths of such basic wages, dearness allowance and other compensatory allowances.
(iii) If the enquiry is not completed within a period for 180 days, the workman shall be paid basic wages, dearness allowance and other compensatory allowance in full as subsistence allowance to be paid per month until such time as the inquiry is finally concluded:
Provided that, where the findings of the Inquiry Officer show that such inquiry is prolonged beyond a period of 90 days, or as the case may be 180 days, for reasons directly attributable to the workman, subsistence allowance to be paid per month shall for the period exceeding 90 days or, as the case may be 180 days, shall be reduced to one-half of such basic wages, dearness allowance and other compensatory allowance.
(iv) If as a result of the inquiry held or explanation tendered, it is decided not to take any action against the workman under clause (1) the workman shall be deemed to have been on duty and shall be entitled to full wages minus such subsistence allowance as he may have already drawn and to all other privileges for the full period of suspension.
(5-B) The payment of subsistence allowance under sub-clause (5-A) shall be subject to the workman concerned not taking up any employment during the period of suspension.
(6) In awarding punishment under this Standing Order the Manager shall take into account the gravity of the misconduct, the previous record, if any, of the workman and any other extenuating or aggravating circumstances that may exist.
(7) If a workman refuses to accept a charge-sheet, order or other communication served in accordance with these Standing Orders, and provided that he has been asked to accept the charge-sheet in the presence of at least two witnesses he shall be told verbally the time and place at which the enquiry into his alleged misconduct is to be held and if he refuses or fails to attend at that time, the inquiry shall be conducted exparte and the punishment awarded shall take account of misconduct under Standing Order 24 thus committed.
24. A workman may be warned , censured or fined for any of the following acts and omissions:-
(a) absence without leave without sufficient cause;
(b) late attendance;
(c) negligence in performing duties;
(d) neglect of work;
(e) absence without leave or without sufficient cause from the appointed place of work.
(f) entering or leaving or attempting to enter or leave the premises of the establishment except by a gate or entrance appointed;
(g) committing nuisance on the premises of the establishment;
(h) breach of any rule or instruction for maintenance or running of any department.
Provided that no workman shall be fined, except in accordance with the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, where the provisions of the said Act are applicable to him.
25. The age for retirement or superannuation of the workmen may be sixty years or such other age as may be agreed upon between the employer and the workmen by any agreement, settlement or award which may be binding on the employer and the workmen under any law for the time being in force.
25-A Where an employer orders a medical examination of workman or a person desiring to be recruited as his workman under any law, contract, custom or usage applicable to his industrial establishment or under any award, agreement or settlement binding on the employer and the workman in his industrial establishment, such examination in the case of a female shall be made only by a lady doctor; and the expenses of such examination shall be borne by the employer.
26. (1) Any workman desirous of the redress of a grievance arising out of his employment or relating to unfair treatment or wrongful exaction on the part of a superior shall either himself or through a trade union of which he is a member, submit a complaint to the Manager in this behalf.
(2) The Manager or any such officer shall personally investigate the complaint at such times and places as he may fix. The workman and-
(i) any other workman of his choice, or
(ii) Where the complaint is made through a trade union, a member of the union shall have the right to be present at such investigation. Where the complaint alleges unfair treatment or wrongful exaction on the part of a superior, a copy of the order finally made by the Manager shall be supplied to the complainant if he asks for one. In other cases the decision of the investigating officer and the action, if any, taken thereon by the Manager shall be intimated to the complainant:
Provided that complaints relating to assault or abuse by any persons holding a supervisory position or refusal of an application for urgent leave shall be enquired into immediately by the Manager or such other officer or officers as he may appoint.
27. The decision of the manager upon any question arising out of, or in connection with, or incidental to these Standing Orders shall be subject to an appeal to the Managing Agent Proprietor, except where the Manager is himself the Proprietor.
28. Every workman other than a casual workman who leaves service or retires, or is dismissed or discharged shall without avoidable delay be given a service certificate if he asks for one.
29. (a) Notice to be exhibited or given under these Standing Orders shall be in English and also in the principal regional language of the district in which the establishment situated.
(b) (i) Any notice, order, charge-sheet communication or intimation which is personal, i.e. is meant for an individual workman and is given in writing under these Standing Orders, shall be in the language understood by the workman concerned.
(ii) Before such a notice, order, charge-sheet communication or intimation is handed over to the workman it shall be read out and explained to him if he so desires.
30. Nothing contained in these Standing Orders shall operate in derogation of any law for the time being in force or to the prejudice of any right under a contract of service, custom or usage or an agreement, settlement or award applicable to the establishment.
C. For working Journalists.
1. These orders hall apply to all working journalists employed in Newspaper establishments.
2. In this Standing Orders unless the context requires otherwise.
(a) “editor” means a person appointed as an editor and who directs and supervises the work of the editorial side of a newspaper establishment;
(b) “manager” means the person for the time being managing newspaper establishment;
(c) “newspaper establishment” means a newspaper establishment referred to in Section 14 of the Act and defined in Clause (d) of Section 2 of the Working Journalists (Conditions of Service) and miscellaneous provisions Act, 1955;
(d) “Working Journalists” shall have the same meaning as under the Working Journalists (Conditions of services) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955;
3. (1) Working Journalists shall be classified as-
(a) permanent,
(b) Probationers,
(c) temporary,
(d) apprentices, and
(e) part-time.
(2) (a) A “permanent working journalist” means a working journalist who has been engaged on a permanent basis or whose appointment has been confirmed in writing by the Manager or any other officer authorised in that behalf and includes any person who has completed a probationary period of three months in aggregate in the same newspaper establishment including breaks due to sickness, accidents, leave, lock-outs, strike or involuntary closure of the establishment.
(b) A “probationer” means a working journalist who is provisionally employed to fill a permanent vacancy or a post and who has not completed three months service in the aggregate in the same newspaper establishment or such extended period not exceeding three months as the Manager in consultation with the editor may direct to give him a chance to show improvement:
Provided that where a permanent working journalist in employed as a probationer in a new post, is at any time during the probationary period, reverted to his old permanent post by an order in writing signed by the manager, he shall cease to be a probationer in the new post.
(c) A “temporary working journalist” means working journalist who has been engaged for work which is of an essentially temporary nature likely to be finished within a limited period and who is engaged strictly on that understanding in writing.
(d) An “apprentice” means a working journalist who is a learner and who is paid an allowance during the period of his training which shall not exceed six months.
(e) A “part-time working journalist” means a working journalist who is employed to do work as a working journalist for less than the normal period of working hours, of a newspaper establishment.
4. Every working journalist at the time of his appointment, confirmation, promotion, or reclassification shall be given a written order specifying his appointment, confirmation, promotion or reclassification, as the case may be, and signed by the Manager.
5. (1) Notices in English, Hindi and the regional languages of the local area wherein the newspaper establishment is situated showing the periods and group of working journalists in the newspaper establishment and for each shift shall be displayed on the notice boards maintained for the purpose in the departments concerned, in the time-keeper’s office and at or near the main entrance to the newspaper establishment.
(2) Any working journalist required to work on an out-door job or at a different place of work shall be notified to that effect in advance.
6. Notices specifying-
(a) the days observed by the newspaper establishment as holidays including the weekly day of rest, and
(b) days on which wage are to be paid, shall be posted on the noticed-board specified in Standing Order 5.
7. (1) More than one shift may be worked in a department or any section of a department of a newspaper establishment at the discretion of the Manager.
(2) if more than one shift is worked, the working journalist shall be liable to be transferred from one shift to another.
(3) Whenever an additional shift is started or shifts are altered or discontinued, a seven days’ notice shall be given, but if as a result of the discontinuance of the shift any permanent working journalist is likely to be discharged a proper notice as prescribed by or under any law for the time being in force and applicable to the newspaper establishment shall be given provided, however that no such notice shall be less than one month.
(4) Before re-starting a shift, a seven days’ notice thereof shall be given in a newspaper having wide local circulation and any working journalist discharged as a result of the discontinuance of the shift shall, if he presents himself within seven days of the restarting of the shift, be given preference for employment.
(5) The Manager may close down any department or section of department after giving one month’s notice to the working journalists concerned, provided, however, that the provisions of any other law for the time being in force and applicable to the working journalists, laying down a different period for such notice shall prevail wherever applicable in individual cases of working journalists. Before re-opening such a department or a section of a department, as the case may be, seven days’ notice thereof shall be given in a newspaper having wide local circulation and any working journalist discharged as a result of the closure of such department or section of a department shall, if he presents himself within seven days of the re-starting of the department or section of the department, as the case may be, be given preference for employment.
(6) The Manager may close down the whole newspaper establishment after giving one month’s notice to the permanent working journalists concerned, provided, however, that the provisions of any other law for the time being in force and applicable to the working journalists laying down a different period of such notice shall prevail wherever applicable in individual cases of working journalists. A seven days’ public notice of the re-starting of the newspaper establishment shall be given in a newspaper having wide local circulation and any working journalists discharged as a result of the closure of the newspaper establishment shall, if he presents himself within seven days of the restarting of the newspaper establishment, be given preference for employment.
(7) Notices of-
(i) starting, re-starting, alteration and discontinuance of shift working;
(ii) closure and re-opening of a department or a section of a department;
(iii) closure and reopening of the newspaper establishment;
shall be displayed on notice-boards maintained for the purpose in the department and the section concerned in the time-keeper’s office and at or near the main entrance of the newspaper establishment.
8. In the event of the closure or discontinuance of a newspaper establishment or a department or a section of a department if the services of a permanent working journalist are dispensed with he shall, on re-starting of the newspaper establishment or department or a section of department, as the case may be, be given an opportunity to service in a post substantially, similar in pay and status to the post he was holding at the time of the closure or discontinuance provided he reports for duly within the time specified in the relevant standing order governing the re-starting in question.
9. (1) All working journalists shall be at work at their respective places of work at the time fixed and notified. Wages of working journalists attending late shall be liable to deductions shall be made in accordance with the principles laid down under the Payment of Wages Act, 1936.
(2) Any working journalist, who is found absent from his proper place of duty during his working hours without permission of the manager or any other authority appointed for this purpose or without sufficient reason, shall be liable to be treated as absent without leave for the period of such absence and the said deductions shall be made in accordance with the principles laid down under the Payment Wages Act, 1936.
10. (1) All working journalists shall be paid wages on a working day before the expiry of the seven days after the last day of the wage period (which shall not exceed one month) in respect of which the wages are payable.
(2) Any wages due to a working journalist but not paid on the usual pay day on account of their being unclaimed shall be paid by the employer on one or more unclaimed wage pay day or days in the following week which shall be notified on the notice board as far as possible.
11. The Manager may, at any time, in event of fire, catastrophe, break-down of machinery or stoppage of power supply, epidemic, civil commotion or any cause beyond his control, close down any department or departments or a section or sections of department or departments of the newspaper establishment wholly or partially or the whole or part of the newspaper establishment for any periods without notice. Wherever practicable, reasonable notice shall be given of the resumption of the normal work.
12. (1) Subject to the provisions of the Working Journalists (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955, or any other law for the time being in force and applicable to the working journalists, the services of a working journalists may be terminated by six months’ notice in the case of an editor and three months’ in the case of any other journalist.
(2) A permanent working journalist desirous of leaving the service may do so by giving to the manager six months’ notice in writing in the case of an editor and three months’ notice in the case of any other working journalist.
(3) Where the employment of any working journalist is terminated the wages earned by him shall be paid before the expiry of the second working day from the date on which his service is terminated and other dues, if any, shall be paid to him or if he is dead to his heirs as far as possible within one month and in any case not later than three months form the date on which his service is terminated.
(4) Where a working journalist leaves the services, the wages earned by him shall be paid within seven days from the date on which he leaves the services and other dues, if any, shall be paid to him or if he is dead, to his heirs as far as possible within one month, and in any case not later than three months from the date on which he leaves the services.
(5) All cases of working journalists other than those appointed on a permanent basis may leave their services without notice but the services of a working journalist shall not be terminated, as a punishment unless the procedure laid down under Standing Order 14 is followed.
(6) An order relating to termination of services of a working journalist shall be in writing and shall be signed by the Manager or an official of the newspaper establishment authorised by him for this purpose. The reason for the termination of the services shall be given in the order, a copy of which shall be supplied to the working journalist concerned.
13. Any of the following acts or omission on the part of a working journalist shall amount to misconduct:-
(a) wilful insubordination or disobedience, whether or not in combination with another, of any lawful and reasonable order of superior;
(b) going on a strike or abetting, inciting, instigating or acting in furtherance of a strike or abetting, instigating or acting in furtherance of a strike in contravention of the provisions of any law or rule having the force of law;
(c) wilful slowing down in performance of work, or abetment or instigation thereof.
(d) theft, fraud, or dishonesty in connection with the employer’s business or property;
(e) taking or giving bribes or any illegal gratification;
(f) habitual absence without leave, or absence without leave for more than ten consecutive days or overstaying the sanctioned leave without sufficient grounds or proper or satisfactory explanation;
(g) habitual late attendance;
(h) habitual breach of any Standing Order or any law applicable to the newspaper establishment or any rules made under such law;
(i) riotous or disorderly or indecent behaviour or commission of any act subversive of discipline on the premises of the newspaper establishment or while on duty;
(j) habitual neglect of work, or gross or habitual negligence;
(k) habitual breach of any rules or instruction for the maintenance and running of any department with which he is concerned;
(l) wilful damage to work in process or to any property of the establishment;
(m)refusal to accept a charge-sheet, order or other communication served in accordance with these Standing Order;
(n) sexual harrasment which includes unwelcome sexual determined behaviour (whether directly or by implication) such as:-
(i) physical contact and advances; or
(ii) a demand or request for sexual favours; or
(iii) sexually coloured remarks; or
(iv) showing pornography; or
(v) any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature
14. (1) The following penalties may be imposed by the Manager or any authority to be nominated by him on a working journalist found guilty of any of the misconduct:-
(a) warning,
(b) censure,
(c) withholding of promotions,
(d) termination of employment by way of discharge, and
(e) termination of employment by way of dismissal:
Provided that no such penalty shall be imposed on any working journalist other than the editor except after consultation with the editor.
(2) No penalty as mentioned above shall be imposed unless a working journalist is informed in writing of the reasons for warding a penalty and is given a reasonable opportunity to defend himself personally or through an official of a trade union of working journalists of which he is a member, including the right to be heard in person and to examine the witnesses.
(3) A working journalist may be suspended during the period of an enquiry against him provided that he shall be paid during such period a subsistence allowance not less than half the wages last drawn by him while on duty.
Explanation.-for the purpose of this Standing Order “wages’” means wages as defined in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
(4) An order of suspension shall be in writing and may take effect immediately on delivery to the working journalists.
(5) If a working journalist refuses to accept a charge-sheet, order or other communications served in accordance with these Standing Orders and provided that he has been asked to accept the charge-sheet in the presence of at least two witnesses, he shall be told verbally the time and place at which the enquiry into his alleged misconduct is to be held and if he refuses or fails to attend at that time, the enquiry shall be conducted exparte and the punishment awarded shall take account of misconduct under Standing Order 13 thus committed.
(6) If on enquiry the charges against the working journalist are not proved to be correct he shall be deemed to have been on duty during the period of suspension and shall be entitled to the wages which he could have received if he had not been suspended.
(7) In awarding penalty under this Standing Order the authority inflicting the punishment shall take into account the gravity of the misconduct, the previous record of the working journalist and any other extenuating or aggravating circumstances, that may exist.
14-A.The age of retirement or superannuation of the working journalist may be sixty year or such other as may be agreed upon between the employer and the working journalist by an agreement, settlement or award which may be binding on the employer and the working journalist under nay law for the time being in force.
15. Any working journalist desirous of redressing any grievance arising out of his employment or relating to unfair treatment or wrongful exaction on the part of a superior shall, either himself or through a trade union of the working journalists of which he is a member, submit a complaint to the manager or any officer appointed in this behalf. An appeal against the order of the Manager shall lie to the employer except where the Manager is the employer.
15-A. Where an employer orders a medical examination of a workman or person desiring to be recruited as his workman under any law, contract, custom, usage applicable to his industrial establishment or under any award, agreement or settlement binding on the employer and the workmen in his industrial establishment such examination in the case of female shall be made only by a lady doctor, and the expenses of such examination shall be borne by the employer.
16. Every working journalist shall on the termination of his services, or on his leaving services, or retiring, be entitled to a service certificate.
17. The Manager of the newspaper establishment shall be personally held responsible for the proper and faithful observance of the Standing Orders.
18. The decision of the Manager on any question arising out of, in connection with, or incidental to these Standing Orders, including decision in connection with taking disciplinary action against a working journalist for misconduct shall be subject to an appeal to the employer, except where Manager is himself an employer.
19. Every working journalist shall be supplied free of cost with a copy of the certified Standing Orders applicable to him and relating to the newspaper establishment in which he is employed, as soon as after the date they come into operation; but in any case not later than three months from such date.
20. (1) Notices to be exhibited or given under these Standing Orders shall unless otherwise provided be in English and also in the principal regional language of the local area wherein the newspaper establishment is situated.
(2) Any notice, order, charge-sheet or other communication or intimation which is addressed to the individual working journalist and is given in writing under these Standing Orders shall be in English or in the principal regional language of the local area wherein the newspaper establishment is situated.
21. Nothing contained in these Standing orders shall operate in derogation of any law applicable and for the time being in force or to the prejudice of any right under an agreement, settlement or an award for the time being in force or contract of service, if any, or custom or usage of the newspaper establishment.

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