Section 69: Workers not entitled for compensation in certain cases
Reviewed by Finin2min Editorial Desk · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Section 69 — Governs workers not entitled for compensation in certain cases and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this section. Key operative text: No compensation shall be paid to a worker who has been laid-off— (i) if he refuses to accept any alternative employment in the same establishment from which he has been laid-off, or in any other establishment belonging to the…
All provisions were brought into force from 21 November 2025 under S.O. 5320(E); use the current India Code consolidation because the Code also reflects the 2026 amendment/transition framework.
Provision / India Code ↗ · Official Act PDF ↗ · 2026 Central Rules ↗
Finin2min analysis — what the section actually does
Operative clauses
- No compensation shall be paid to a worker who has been laid-off— (i) if he refuses to accept any alternative employment in the same establishment from which he has been laid-off, or in any other establishment belonging to the same employer situate in the same town or village or situate within a radius of eight kilometres from the establishment to which he belongs, if, in the opinion of the employer, such…
Provisos, explanations & qualifications
- provided that the wages which would normally have been paid to the worker are offered for the alternative employment also; (ii) if he does not present himself for work at the establishment at the appointed time during normal working hours at least once a day; (iii) if such laying-off is due to a strike or slowing-down of production on the part of workers…
Thresholds and timelines in the text
- (ii) if he does not present himself for work at the establishment at the appointed time during normal working hours at least once a day;
Actors expressly appearing in the text
Employer, Worker
Full statutory text — Section 69
69. Workers not entitled for compensation in certain cases.—No compensation shall be paid to
a worker who has been laid-off—
(i) if he refuses to accept any alternative employment in the same establishment from which he
has been laid-off, or in any other establishment belonging to the same employer situate in the same
town or village or situate within a radius of eight kilometres from the establishment to which he
belongs, if, in the opinion of the employer, such alternative employment does not call for any special
skill or previous experience and can be done by the worker, provided that the wages which would
normally have been paid to the worker are offered for the alternative employment also;
(ii) if he does not present himself for work at the establishment at the appointed time during
normal working hours at least once a day;
(iii) if such laying-off is due to a strike or slowing-down of production on the part of workers in
another part of the establishment.How to apply this provision
- Primary statutory test — No compensation shall be paid to a worker who has been laid-off— (i) if he refuses to accept any alternative employment in the same establishment from which he has been laid-off, or in any other establishment belonging to the same employer situate in the same town or village or situate within a radius of eight kilometres from the establishment to which he belongs, if, in the opinion of the employer, such…
- Qualification / exception to test — provided that the wages which would normally have been paid to the worker are offered for the alternative employment also; (ii) if he does not present himself for work at the establishment at the appointed time during normal working hours at least once a day; (iii) if such laying-off is due to a strike or slowing-down of production on the part of workers…
- Numerical or timing control — (ii) if he does not present himself for work at the establishment at the appointed time during normal working hours at least once a day;
- Evidence file — retain facts and records proving the role/status of: Employer, Worker.
Rules, forms and cross-references
Direct 2026 Central Rule mapping
Forms mapped
No prescribed form is directly mapped in the current concordance.
Other sections cited in this text
Related Labour Hub resources
A direct concordance is not exhaustive. Central/State jurisdiction, schemes, authority appointments, saved instruments and later notifications may change the practical route without changing the section wording.
Worked example
Suppose an industrial establishment reaches a step governed by workers not entitled for compensation in certain cases. HR/IR should create a dated file showing coverage, the competent authority/union status, required notice or application, service proof and the result. One operative text point to test is: “(ii) if he does not present himself for work at the establishment at the appointed time during normal working hours at least once a day;” Also test the express qualification/proviso before concluding the result.
Illustration only; it is not statutory text or a substitute for applying the actual facts, jurisdiction, current rule/scheme and official instrument.
Q&A — Section 69
What does Section 69 of the Industrial Relations Code cover?
Section 69 — Governs workers not entitled for compensation in certain cases and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this section. Key operative text: No compensation shall be paid to a worker who has been laid-off— (i) if he refuses to accept any alternative employment in the same establishment from which he has been laid-off, or in any other establishment belonging to the…
What is the main legal requirement or power in Section 69?
The first operative clause identified from the official text is: “No compensation shall be paid to a worker who has been laid-off— (i) if he refuses to accept any alternative employment in the same establishment from which he has been laid-off, or in any other establishment belonging to the same employer situate in the same town or village or situate within a radius of eight kilometres from the establishment to which he belongs, if, in the opinion of the employer, such…” Read it with the remaining subsections and any proviso below.
Does Section 69 contain a proviso or explanation?
Yes. A qualification extracted from the official text is: “provided that the wages which would normally have been paid to the worker are offered for the alternative employment also; (ii) if he does not present himself for work at the establishment at the appointed time during normal working hours at least once a day; (iii) if such laying-off is due to a strike or slowing-down of production on the part of workers…”
What time limit, percentage or amount appears in Section 69?
The provision contains this numerical/time expression: “(ii) if he does not present himself for work at the establishment at the appointed time during normal working hours at least once a day;” Apply it only in the clause and context in which it appears.
Which 2026 Central Rules are linked to Section 69?
No direct Central Rule is recorded in the current concordance. That does not exclude a relevant scheme, notification, State rule or enabling provision.
Is Section 69 currently operative?
All provisions were brought into force from 21 November 2025 under S.O. 5320(E); use the current India Code consolidation because the Code also reflects the 2026 amendment/transition framework.
Source & verification trail
Act: Industrial Relations Code, 2020 — official India Code PDF ↗
Central Rules: Industrial Relations (Central) Rules, 2026 — G.S.R. 342(E), 8 May 2026 ↗
Official library: Ministry of Labour & Employment — Labour Codes ↗
Source check: 20 August 2026. Individual professional interpretation should be re-reviewed when the section, rules, notification, scheme, State overlay or controlling judgment changes.