Bonus Act: When Must Employer Pay Diwali Bonus 2026? Your Legal Rights
- Salary/wages ≤ ₹21,000/month (eligibility limit)
- Worked minimum 30 days in the accounting year
- Establishment has 20+ employees (or had 20+ in past)
- New setup: first 5 years exempt if no profits (but set-on/set-off rules apply)
Diwali ke aas-paas har employee ke mann mein ek hi sawaal hota hai — "bonus kab milega?" Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 ke under statutory bonus ek legal right hai eligible employees ke liye. October/November mein Diwali hai — kya employer legally bound hai Diwali se pehle bonus dene ke liye? Poora jawab is article mein hai.
Payment of Bonus Act Kya Kaha Karta Hai?
Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 ke under bonus ki deadline:
- Bonus accounting year khatam hone ke 8 mahine ke andar dena compulsory hai (Section 19)
- Agar employee demand kare ya accounting year mein koi festival hai — toh employer bonus pehle bhi de sakta hai aur baad mein annual bonus se adjust kar sakta hai
- For companies with April–March accounting year: bonus latest by November of next financial year due hai
Diwali ke liye advance bonus payment:
Section 17 of Payment of Bonus Act allows employers to pay an "interim bonus" or "advance bonus" before the accounting year closes — specifically linked to festive seasons. This is typically what "Diwali bonus" refers to. After year-end calculation, final bonus is adjusted against this advance.
Kitna Bonus Milta Hai?
Minimum aur maximum rates:
| Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Minimum bonus (even if no profit) | 8.33% of annual wages (min ₹100) |
| Maximum bonus | 20% of annual wages |
| Wage cap for calculation | ₹7,000/month (or minimum wage if higher) |
Calculation example: Salary ₹15,000/month (above ₹7,000 cap)
- Bonus wage: ₹7,000/month (capped)
- Annual bonus wage: ₹7,000 × 12 = ₹84,000
- Minimum bonus (8.33%): ₹84,000 × 8.33% = ₹6,997.20 ≈ ₹7,000
- Maximum bonus (20%): ₹84,000 × 20% = ₹16,800
Kise Nahi Milta Statutory Bonus?
- Salary/wages ₹21,000/month se zyada wale employees (not covered under Act)
- Government employees (separate bonus rules)
- LIC employees (separate arrangement)
- Less than 30 days worked in the year
- New establishments (first 5 years — unless profits are made)
Note: Salary ₹21,000 se zyada wale employees ko contractual bonus mil sakta hai (jo appointment letter ya company policy mein mentioned ho) — lekin Bonus Act ka statutory right nahi hai.
Ex-Gratia vs Statutory Bonus — Fark Samjhein
Kai companies "Diwali bonus" ke naam pe Ex-Gratia deti hain — yeh Bonus Act ke under nahi aata, employer ke discretion pe hota hai:
- Statutory bonus: Bonus Act ke under legal right, minimum 8.33%
- Ex-gratia: Employer ki marzi se — amount aur payment discretionary hai
- Performance bonus: Contract-based — appointment letter ya policy ke anusaar
Bonus Nahi Diya Toh Kya Karein?
Agar aap eligible ho lekin employer ne bonus nahi diya:
- HR ko likhit mein request karo — bonus ke liye statutory claim mention karo
- Labour Commissioner mein complaint file karo (Payment of Bonus Act ke under)
- Complaint: Shram Suvidha Portal ya state labour office
- Limitation: Complaint filing within 1 year of bonus becoming due
Employer pe penalty: Rs 1,000 fine aur/ya 6 months jail (Section 28) — isliye serious companies comply karti hain.
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