EMPLOYMENT (RECORD OF SERVICES) ACT, 1951

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THE EMPLOYMENT (RECORD OF SERVICES) ACT, 1951 
(XIX of 1952) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent, application and commencement. 
2. Definitions. 
3. Exemptions. 
4. Service book to be produced by employee. 
5. Form of the service book. 
6. Entries in the service book. 
7. Power of inspection. 
8. Penalty. 
9. Cognizance of offences. 
10. Prosecution. 
11. Protection of action taken under the Act. 
12. Power to make rules. 
 
 
 
 
TEXT 
1
THE EMPLOYMENT (RECORD OF SERVICES) ACT, 1951 
(XIX of 1952) 
[18 April 1952] 
An 
Act 
to make provision for the compulsory maintenance of the record of service of 
persons in certain classes of employment in certain areas. 
 WHEREAS it is expedient to make provision for the compulsory maintenance 
of the record of service of persons in certain classes of employment in certain areas;  
 It is hereby enacted as follows:– 
1. Short title, extent, application and commencement .– (1) This Act may be 
called the Employment (Record of Services) Act, 1951. 
 
2
[(2) It extends to the whole of 
3
[the Punjab]]. 
 (3) It applies to all persons concerned as employers or employees in such 
classes of employment and in such areas as the 
4
[
5
[*] Government] may specify by 
notification in this behalf
6
. 
 (4) It shall come into force on such date as the 
7
[
8
[*] Government] may, by 
notification in the official Gazette, appoint
9
. 
                                                           
1For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Gazette of Pakistan, Part V, dated 23.11.51, For Report of Selection Committee 
see Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), March 29, 1952, pp . 335-339. Received the assent of the Govern or General on 
18.4.52 and first published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated 18.4.52, pp. 573-576. 
2Substituted by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (XXI of 1960) (w.e.f. 14.10.1955), published in the Gazette 
of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated June 9, 1960, pp. 725-845, s. 3(1) read with Second Schedule. 
3Substituted for the word “Pakistan” by the Employment (Record of Services) (Amendment) Act, 2011 (XI of 2011), published in 
the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated May 2, 2011, pp. 38639-38640, s. 2(a). 
4Substituted for the words “appropriate Government” by the Central Adaptation of Laws Order, 1964 (I of 1964), published in 
the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 28, 1964, pp. 251-c-251-aao, Article 2(1) read with Schedule. 
5Omitted the word “Provincial” by the Employment (Record of Services) (Amendment) Act, 2011 (XI of 2011), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated May 2, 2011, pp. 38639-38640, s. 2(b). 
6(a) Act applied to the following classes of  employment throughout the Province of West Pakistan :– (i) All commercial 
establishments as defined in clause (c) of section 2 of the Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) 
Ordinance, 1960 (III of 1960), employing 50 workers or above; and ( ii) All industrial establishments as defined in clause (e) of 
section 2 of the Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) Ordinance, 1960 (III of 1960), employing 250 
workers or above. [Health, Welfare & Local Govt. Dep artment Notification No. IX-14-1(L-II)/59(2) of August 1, 1961, Gazette of 
West Pakistan (Extraordinary, August 3, 1961, p. 1855]; (b) Act applied to all persons concerned as employers or employees in 
textile (Cotton and Wool) industries in Federal Capital. Gazette of Pak istan, Part 1, October 30, 1959, p. 500 Ministry of Health 
and Social Welfare Notification No. S.R.O. 510, dated October 26, 1959. 
7Substituted for the words “appropriate Government” by the Central Adaptation of Laws Order, 1964 (I of 1964), published in 
the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 28, 1964, pp. 251-c-251-aao, Article 2(1) read with Schedule. 
8Omitted the word “Provincial” by the Employment (Record of Services) (Amendment) Act, 2011 (XI of 2011), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated May 2, 2011, pp. 38639-38640, s. 2(b).  
9(a) Act applied to the following classes of employment throughout the Province of West Pakistan :– (i) All commercial 
establishments as defined in clause (c) of section 2 of the Industrial and Commercial Empl oyment (Standing Orders) 
Ordinance, 1960 (III of 1960), employing 50 workers or above; and (ii) All industrial establishments as defined in clause (e)  of 
section 2 of the Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) Ordinance, 1960 (III of 1960),  employing 250 
workers or above. [Health, Welfare & Local Govt. Dept. Notification IX -14-1(L-II)/59(2) of Aug ust 1,  1961 Gazette of West 
2. Definitions.– In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or 
context,–  
1
[(a) * * * * * * * * *  ] 
"employee" means a person to whom this Act applies engaged for hire 
or for any other pecuniary consideration by an employer, or an 
apprentice; 
(b) "employee" means a person to whom this Act applies engaged for hire 
or f or any other pecuniary consideration by an employer, or an 
apprentice; 
(c) "employer" means any person to whom this Act applies engaging the 
services–manual or clerical, skilled or unskilled –of another for hire or 
for any other pecuniary consideration or a s an apprentice for the 
purpose of carrying on his calling, trade, business, undertaking or 
manufacture or for personal or domestic service and includes any body 
of persons whether incorporated or not and any managing agent of any 
employer; 
2
[(cc) “Government” means Government of the Punjab;] 
(d) "Labour Commissioner" means the officer so designated and appointed 
by the 
3
[
4
[*] Government]; 
(e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; and 
(f) "wages" has the same meaning as in the Payment of Wages Act, 
1936
5
. 
3. Exemptions.– The 
6
[
7
[*] Government] may exempt, from the provisions of this 
Act any establishment or undertaking where records of service are maintained to the 
satisfaction of the Government.  
4. Service book to be produced by emplo yee.– (1) Before engaging an 
employee the employer shall require from him his service book, if he asserts that he 
has been previously in employment under any other employer and the employee 
shall produce the service book if he has one. 
                                                                                                                                                                                     
Pakistan (Extraordinary), Aug ust 3, 1961, p.  1855] (b) Act applied to all persons concerned as employers or employees i n 
textile (Cotton and Wool) industries in Federal Capital. Gazette of Pakistan Part 1, October 30, 1959, p. 500 Min of Health and 
Social Welfare Notification S.R.O. 510, dated October 26, 1959. 
1Omitted by the Central Adaptation of Laws Order, 1964 (I of 1964), published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated 
May 28, 1964, pp. 251-c-251-aao, Article 2(1) read with Schedule.  
2Inserted by the Employment (Record of Services) (Amendment) Act, 2011 (XI of 2011), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated May 2, 2011, pp. 38639-38640, s. 3(b). 
3Substituted for the words “appropriate Government” by the Central Adaptation of Laws Order, 1964 (I of 1964), published in 
the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 28, 1964, pp. 251-c-251-aao, Article 2(1) read with Schedule.  
4Omitted the word “Provincial” by the Employment (Record of Services) (Amendment) Act, 2011 (XI of 2011), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated May 2, 2011, pp. 38639-38640, s. 2(b).  
5IV of 1936. 
6Substituted for the words “appropriate Government” by the Central Adaptation of Laws Order, 1964 (I of 1964), published in 
the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 28, 1964, pp. 251-c-251-aao, Article 2(1) read with Schedule.  
7Omitted the word “Provincial” by the Employment (Record of Services) (Amendment) Act, 2011 (XI of 2011), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated May 2, 2011, pp. 38639-38640, s. 4.  
 
1
[(2) If the employ ee has no service book, the employer shall, at his own 
cost, provide one and keep it with himself.] 
 (3) The service book 
2
[if any produced by the employee under sub -section 
(1)] shall be kept by the employer, who shall give the employee a receipt therefor e in 
the prescribed form. 
 (4) Nothing in this section shall prevent an agreement between the 
employee and the employer whereby it is provided that the employee shall keep and 
maintain a duplicate of his service book. 
 (5) The employer shall hand over the service book to the employee on the 
termination of the employee's service with the employer, except where the 
3
[employee] has kept and maintained a duplicate of his service book. 
 
4
[(6) If the service book handed over to the employee under sub -section (5), 
or the duplicate thereof maintained by him, is lost by him, the employer shall provide 
him with a duplicate service book and may charge him the prescribed price.] 
5. Form of the service book .– The service book shall be of the size and in the 
form as may be prescribed and a passport size photo of the employee if a male shall 
be affixed to it. The service book shall contain particulars of identification of the 
employee, the name and other particulars of the persons under whom employed 
from time to time, peri od of employment, occupation, rate of wages including 
allowances, if any, leave taken and records of conduct and efficiency by employers. 
6. Entries in the service book .– The employer shall at the commencement of 
the employment and during the continuance o f the same make such entries therein 
from time to time as are required by this Act and the rules made thereunder and he 
and the employee shall sign the entries as they are made. 
7. Power of inspection.– The Labour Commissioner or an officer authorised by 
him in writing may by written notice require an employer or an employee to produce 
the service book or the duplicate service book or any other paper or document which 
he may have reason to believe contains the particulars noted in the service book 
and thereupon the employer or the employee, as the case may be, shall comply if he 
is in possession of the said book, paper or document. 
8. Penalty.– Any breach of the provisions of this Act or the rules made 
thereunder shall be punishable in the case of an employe r with fine which may 
extend to 
5
[five thousand] rupees, and in the case of an employee with a fine which 
may extend to 
6
[five hundred] rupees and for the purposes of this section any failure 
or refusal to comply with a requirement duly made by a person em powered under 
this Act or under the rules made thereunder to make it shall be deemed to be a 
                                                           
1Substituted by the Employment (Record of Services) (Amendment) Ordinance, 1960 (XVIII of 1960), published in the Gazette 
of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 26, 1960, s. 2(a). 
2Inserted by the Ordinance ibid., s.2(b). 
3Substituted for the word “employer” by the Ordinance ibid., s. 2(c). 
4Added by the Ordinance ibid., s. 2(d). 
5Substituted for the word “fifty” by the Employment (Record of Services) (Amendment) Act, 2011 (XI of 2011), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated May 2, 2011, pp. 38639-38640, s. 5(a). 
6Substituted for the word “five” by the Act ibid., s. 5(b). 
breach of the said provisions. 
9. Cognizance of offences .– No court shall take cognizance of an offence 
punishable under this Act unless previous sanction for pros ecution has been 
accorded on the prescribed form by the Labour Commissioner and except upon 
complaint by any public servant or by a person authorised in this behalf by the 
Labour Commissioner in writing on the said form. 
10. Prosecution.– Any infringement of or refusal or omission to carry out the 
provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder by any person may be reported 
to the Labour Commissioner or to any other officer appointed in this behalf by him by 
an order in writing for such local limits as may be assigned in the order, for sanction 
of prosecution or for such other action as he may deem proper to take. 
11. Protection of action taken under the Act .– No suit, prosecution or legal 
proceeding shall lie against any person in respect of anything in  good faith done or 
intended to be done under this Act or the rules made thereunder. 
12. Power to make rules .– (1) The 
1
[
2
[*] Government] may, after previous 
publication, make rules
3
 for carrying into effect 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 form of the service book and the particulars to be entered therein; 
(b) the quality of paper and covering page of the service book; 
(c) the number of pages of the book; 
(d) the time within which any entry in the service book shall be made and 
the occasions on which a fresh entry shall be made; 
(e) the authorisation of persons to manufacture and sell service books and 
prescribed forms; 
(f) the procedure at any inve stigation and for proceedings before the 
grant of sanction for prosecution by the Labour Commissioner; 
(g) the persons and class of public servants who may be authorised by the 
Labour Commissioner to make complaints under this Act; and 
(h) the manner of calculation of monthly wages. 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
1Substituted for the words “appropriate Government” by the Central Adaptation of Laws Order, 1964 (I of 1964), published in 
the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 28, 1964, pp. 251-c-251-aao, Article 2(1) read with Schedule.  
2Omitted the word “Provincial” by the Employment (Record of Services) (Amendment) Act, 2011 (XI of 2011), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated May 2, 2011, pp. 38639-38640, s. 6. 
3The Employment (Record of Services) Federal Capital Rules, 1956 issued by  the Ministry of Labour, vide Notification No. LR -
19(2)53, dated November 8, 1956, published in the Gazette of Pakistan, Part I, pp. 522-527.