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    THE SALES PROMOTION EMPLOYEES (CONDITIONS OF SERVICE) ACT, 1976  
                       ACT NO. 11 OF 1976  
                      [25th January, 1976.]
  
 
 An Act  to regulate  certain conditions  of service of sales promotion
 employees in certain establishments.
 
      BE it  enacted by  Parliament in  the Twenty-sixth  Year  of  the
 Republic of India as follows:--
 
  
 1.
  
 Short title, extent, commencement and application.
  
 
      1. Short title, extent,  commencement and  application.- (1) This
 Act may  be  called  the  Sales  Promotion  Employees  (Conditions  of
 Service) Act, 1976.
 
      (2) It extends to the whole of India.
 
      (3) It  shall come  into force  on such  date1*   as the  Central
 Government may,  by notification  in the Official Gazette, appoint and
 different dates may be appointed for different States.
 
      (4) It  shall apply  in the first instance to every establishment
 engaged in pharmaceutical industry.
 
      (5) The  Central Government  may, by notification in the Official
 Gazette, apply  the provisions of this Act, with effect from such date
 as may  be specified  in the  notification, to any other establishment
 engaged in any notified industry.
 
  
 2.
  
 Definitions.
  
 
      2.  Definitions.-  In  this  Act,  unless  the  context otherwise
 requires,--
 
           (a)  "establishment"   means  an  establishment  engaged  in
                pharmaceutical industry or in any notified industry;
 
           (b) "notified  industry" means  an industry declared as such
                under section 3;
 
           (c) "prescribed"  means prescribed  by rules made under this
                Act;
 
           2*[(d)  "sales  promotion  employee"  means  any  person  by
                whatever name called (including an apprentice) employed
                or engaged  in any  establishment for hire or reward to
                do any work relating to promotion of sales or business,
                or both, but does not include any such person--
 
                     (i)  who,   being  employed   or  engaged   in   a
                supervisory capacity,  draws  wages  exceeding  sixteen
                hundred rupees per mensem; or
 
                     (ii) who  is  employed  or  engaged  mainly  in  a
                managerial or administrative capacity.
 
      Explanation.--For the  purposes of  this clause,  the  wages  per
 mensem of  a person  shall be  deemed to be the amount equal to thirty
 times his  total wages  (whether or  not including, or comprising only
 of, commission)  in respect  of the  continuous period  of his service
 falling within  the period  of twelve months immediately preceding the
 date with reference to which the calculation is to be made, divided by
 the number of days comprising that period of service;]
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   6-3-1976:--Vide Notifn. No. S. O. 176(E), dated 6-3-1976.
 2.   Subs. by Act 48 of 1986, s. 2 (w.e.f. 6-5-1987).
 
 544
 
           (e) all  words and  expressions used but not defined in this
                Act and  defined in  the Industrial  Disputes Act, 1947
                (14 of  1947),  shall  have the  meanings  respectively
                assigned to them in that Act.
 
  
 3.
  
 Power of  Central Government  to  declare  certain  industries  to  
benotified industries.
  
 
      3. Power  of Central  Government to declare certain industries to
 be notified industries.- The  Central Government may, having regard to
 the nature  of any  industry (not  being pharmaceutical industry), the
 number of  employees employed in such industry to do any work relating
 to promotion  of sales  or business or both, the conditions of service
 of such  employees and such other factors which, in the opinion of the
 Central Government,  are relevant,  declare  such  industry  to  be  a
 notified industry for the purposes of this Act.
 
  
 4.
  
 Leave.
  
 
      4. Leave.- 1*[(1)] In  addition to such holidays, casual leave or
 other kinds  of leave  as may  be prescribed,  every  sales  promotion
 employee 2*** shall be granted, if so requested for--
 
           (a) earned  leave on  full wages  for  not  less  than  one-
                eleventh of the period spent on duty;
 
           (b) leave  on medical  certificate on  one-half of the wages
                for not  less than  one-eighteenth  of  the  period  of
                service.
 
      3*[(2) The  maximum limit  up to which a sales promotion employee
 may accumulate earned leave shall be such as may be prescribed.
 
      (3) The limit up to which the earned leave may be availed of at a
 time by  a sales  promotion employee  and the  reasons for  which such
 limit may be exceeded shall be such as may be prescribed.
 
      (4) A sales promotion employee shall,--
 
           (a) when  he voluntarily  relinquishes his  post or  retires
               from service, or
 
           (b)  when   his  services  are  terminated  for  any  reason
                whatsoever (not being termination as punishment),
 
 be entitled  to cash  compensation, subject  to  such  conditions  and
 restrictions as  may be  prescribed (including  conditions by  way  of
 specifying the  maximum period  for which such cash compensation shall
 be payable),  in respect  of the  earned leave  earned by  him and not
 availed of.
 
      (5) Where  a sales  promotion employee dies while in service, his
 heirs shall  be entitled  to cash compensation for the earned leave by
 him and not availed of.
 
      (6) The  cash compensation  which will  be  payable  to  a  sales
 promotion employee or, as the case may be, his heirs in respect of any
 period of  earned leave for which he or his heirs, as the case may be,
 is or  are entitled to cash compensation under sub-section (4) or sub-
 section (5), as the case may be, shall be an amount equal to the wages
 due to such sales promotion employee for such period.]
 
  
 5.
  
 Issue of appointment letter.
  
 
      5. Issue of appointment  letter.- Every employer in relation to a
 sales promotion  employee shall  furnish to  such employee a letter of
 appointment, in such form as may be prescribed,--
 
           (a) in  a case  where he  holds appointment  as such  at the
                commencement of  this Act,  within three months of such
                commencement; and
 
           (b) in any other case, on his appointment as such.
 
  
 6.
  
 Application of certain Acts to sales promotion employees.
  
 
      6. Application of certain Acts to sales promotion employees.- (1)
 The provisions  of the  Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 (8 of  1923),
 as in  force for  the time  being, shall  apply to, or in relation to,
 sales promotion employees as they apply to, or in relation to, workmen
 within the meaning of that Act.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Re-numbered  by Act 48 of 1986, s. 3 (w.e.f. 8-3-1976).
 2.   Omitted by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 6-5-1987).
 3.   Ins. by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 8-3-1976).
 
 545
 
      (2) The  provisions of  the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947  (14 of
 1947), as  in force for the time being, shall apply to, or in relation
 to, sales  promotion employees  as they  apply to,  or in relation to,
 workmen within  the meaning  of that  Act and  for the purposes of any
 proceeding under  that Act  in relation  to an  industrial dispute,  a
 sales promotion  employee shall be deemed to include a sales promotion
 employee  who   has  been   dismissed,  discharged  or  retrenched  in
 connection with,  or as  a  consequence  of,  that  dispute  or  whose
 dismissal, discharge or retrenchment had led to that dispute.
 
      (3) The  provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (11 of  1948),
 as in  force for  the time  being, shall  apply to, or in relation to,
 sales promotion  employees as  they  apply  to,  or  in  relation  to,
 employees within the meaning of that Act.
 
      (4) The  provisions of  the Maternity  Benefit Act,  1961 (53  of
 1961),  as in force for the time being, shall apply to, or in relation
 to, sales  promotion employees,  being women,  as they apply to, or in
 relation to,  women employed,  whether directly or through any agency,
 for wages in any establishment within the meaning of that Act.
 
      (5) The  provisions of  the Payment  of Bonus  Act, 1965  (21  of
 1965),  as in force for the time being, shall apply to, or in relation
 to, sales  promotion employees  as they  apply to,  or in relation to,
 employees within the meaning of that Act.
 
      (6) The  provisions of  the Payment  of Gratuity Act, 1972 (39 of
 1972),  as in force for the time being, shall apply to, or in relation
 to, sales  promotion employees  as they  apply to,  or in relation to,
 employees within the meaning of that Act.
 
      1*[(7) Notwithstanding  anything contained  in the foregoing sub-
 sections,--
 
           (a) in  the application of any Act referred to in any of the
               said sub-section to sales promotion employees, the wages
               of a sales promotion  employee for  the purposes of such
               Act, shall be deemed to  be his  wages  as  computed  in
               accordance  with  the provisions of this Act;
 
           (b) where an Act referred to in any of the said sub-sections
              provides for a ceiling limit as to wages so as to exclude
              from  the purview of the application of  such Act persons
              whose wages exceed such ceiling limit, such Act shall not
              apply  to  any  sales  promotion  employee whose wages as
              computed  in  accordance  with the provisions of this Act
              exceed such ceiling limit.]
 
  
 7.
  
 Maintenance of registers.
  
 
      7. Maintenance  of registers.- Every employer  in relation  to an
 establishment  shall  keep  and  maintain  such  registers  and  other
 documents and such manner as may be prescribed.
 
  
 8.
  
 Inspectors.
  
 
      8. Inspectors.- (1) The  State Government may, by notification in
 the Official  Gazette, appoint  such persons  as it  thinks fit  to be
 Inspectors for  the purposes  of this  Act and  may define  the  local
 limits within which they shall exercise their functions.
 
      (2) Any  Inspector appointed  under sub-section  (1) may, for the
 purpose of ascertaining whether any of the provisions of this Act have
 been complied with in respect of an establishment,--
 
           (a) require  an employer  to furnish  such information as he
                may consider necessary;
 
           (b) at  any reasonable  time enter  the establishment or any
                premises connected  therewith and require any one found
                in charge
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Ins. by Act 48 of 1986, s. 4 (w.e.f. 6-5-1987).
 
 546
 
                thereof to  produce  before  him  for  examination  any
                registers  and   other  documents   relating   to   the
                employment of sales promotion employees;
 
           (c) examine  with respect  to any  matter relevant to any of
                the purposes  aforesaid, the  employer,  his  agent  or
                servant or  any other  person found  in charge  of  the
                establishment or  any premises  connected therewith  or
                any person  whom the  Inspector has reasonable cause to
                believe to  be  or  to  have  been  a  sales  promotion
                employee in the establishment;
 
           (d) make  copies of  or take  extracts from  any register or
                other  documents   maintained  in   relation   to   the
                establishment under this Act;
 
           (e) exercise such other powers as may be prescribed.
 
      (3) Every Inspector shall be deemed to be a public servant within
 the meaning  of section  21 of  the Indian  Penal Code,  1860  (45  of
 1860).
 
      (4) Any person required to produce any register or other document
 or to  give information by an Inspector under sub-section (2) shall be
 legally bound to do so.
 
  
 9.
  
 Penalty.
  
 
      9. Penalty.-If any employer contravenes the provisions of section
 4 or section 5 or section 7 or any rules made under this Act, he shall
 be punishable with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
 
  
 10.
  
 Offences by companies.
  
 
      10. Offences by companies.-  (1) Where  an offence under this Act
 has been  committed by  a company,  every person  who, at the time the
 offence was  committed, was  in charge of, and was responsible to, the
 company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the
 company, shall  be deemed  to be  guilty of  the offence  and shall be
 liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
 
      Provided that  nothing contained in this sub-section shall render
 any such  person liable to any punishment provided in this section, if
 he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that
 he exercised  all due  diligence to  prevent the  commission  of  such
 offence.
 
      (2) Notwithstanding  anything contained in sub-section (1), where
 an offence  under this  Act has  been committed by a company and it is
 proved that  the offence  has  been  committed  with  the  consent  or
 connivance of,  or is  attributable to, any neglect on the part of any
 director, manager,  secretary or  other officer  of the  company, such
 director, manager,  secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to
 be guilty  of such offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against
 and punished accordingly.
 
 547
 
      (3) For the purposes of this section,--
 
           (a) "company"  means any  body corporate and includes a firm
                or other association of individuals; and
 
           (b) "director",  in relation  to a  firm, means a partner in
                the firm.
 
  
 11.
  
 Cognizance of offences.
  
 
      11. Cognizance  of offences.- (1) No  court inferior to that of a
 Metropolitan Magistrate  or a  Magistrate of the first class shall try
 any offence punishable under this Act.
 
      (2) No  court shall take cognizance of an offence under this Act,
 unless the  complaint thereof is made within six months of the date on
 which the offence is alleged to have been committed.
 
  
 11A.
  
 Effect of laws and agreements inconsistent with this Act.
  
 
     1*[11A. Effect of laws and agreements inconsistent with this Act.-
 (1) The  provisions of  this Act  or of any rule made thereunder shall
 have effect, notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained
 in any  other law  or in the terms of any award, agreement, settlement
 or contract  of service,  whether made before or after the coming into
 force of this Act:
 
      Provided  that  where  under  any  such  law,  award,  agreement,
 settlement or  contract of  service, a  sales  promotion  employee  is
 entitled  to  benefits  in  respect  of  any  matter  which  are  more
 favourable to  him than those to which he would be entitled under this
 Act, the sales promotion employee shall continue to be entitled to the
 more favourable  benefits in  respect of  that matter, notwithstanding
 that he  is entitled  to receive  benefits in respect of other matters
 under this Act.
 
      (2) Nothing  contained in this Act shall be construed to preclude
 a sales  promotion employee  from entering  into an agreement with his
 employer for  granting him  rights or  privileges in  respect  of  any
 matter which  are more  favourable to him than those to which he would
 be entitled under this Act.]
 
  
 12.
  
 Power to make rules.
  
 
      12. Power  to make  rules.- (1) The Central  Government  may,  by
 notification in  the Official  Gazette, make  rules to  carry out  the
 purposes of this Act.
 
      (2) In  particular and without prejudice to the generality of the
 foregoing power, such rules may provide for--
 
           (a) the  kinds of  leave that  may be  granted  to  a  sales
                promotion employee  2*[, the  limit up  to which he may
                accumulate earned  leave, the  limit up to which he may
                avail of  earned leave  at a  time and  the reasons for
                which such  limit may  be exceeded,  the conditions and
                restrictions subject  to which  he may  be entitled  to
                cash compensation] under section 4;
 
           (b) the  form of  the letter  of appointment to be furnished
                under section 5;
 
           (c) the  registers  and  other  documents  to  be  kept  and
                maintained under section 7 and the manner in which such
                registers  and   other  documents   may  be   kept  and
                maintained;
 
           (d) any other matter which has to be, or may be prescribed.
 
      (3) Every  rule made  by the  Central Government  under this  Act
 shall be  laid, as  soon as may be after it is made, before each House
 of Parliament  while it  is in  session, for  a total period of thirty
 days which  may be  comprised  in  one  session  or  in  two  or  more
 successive  sessions,  and  if,  before  the  expiry  of  the  session
 immediately  following   the  session   or  the   successive  sessions
 aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or
 both Houses  agree that  the rule  should not  be made, the rule shall
 thereafter have  effect only in such modified form or be of no effect,
 as the  case may  be; so,  however,  that  any  such  modification  or
 annulment shall  be without  prejudice to  the  validity  of  anything
 previously done under that rule.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Ins. by Act 69 of 1982, s. 2 (retrospectively).
 2.   Ins. by Act 48 of 1986, s. 5 (w.e.f. 8-3-1976).