(1) Where an establishment is closed down for any reason whatsoever, every worker who has been in continuous service for not less than one year in that undertaking immediately before such closure shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), be entitled to notice and compensation in accordance with the provisions of section 70, as if the worker had been retrenched:
Provided that where the undertaking is closed down on account of unavoidable circumstances beyond the control of the employer, the compensation to be paid to the worker under clause (b) of section 70, shall not exceed his average pay for three months.
Explanation.—An industrial establishment which is closed down by reason merely of—
(i) financial difficulties (including financial losses); or
(ii) accumulation of un-disposed stocks; or
(iii) the expiry of the period of the lease or license granted to it; or
(iv) in case where the undertaking is engaged in mining operations, exhaustion of the minerals in the area in which operations are carried on, shall not be deemed to be closed down on account of unavoidable circumstances beyond the control of the employer within the meaning of the proviso to this sub-section.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an undertaking engaged in mining operations is closed down by reason merely of exhaustion of the minerals in the area in which such operations are carried on, no worker referred to in that sub-section shall be entitled to any notice or compensation in accordance with the provisions of section 70, if—
(a) the employer provides the worker, at the place located within a radius of twenty kilometres from such undertaking engaged in mining operation is closed down, with alternative employment with effect from the date of closure at the same remuneration as he was entitled to receive, and on the same terms and conditions of service as were applicable to him, immediately before the closure;
(b) the service of the worker has not been interrupted by such alternative employment; and
(c) the employer is, under the terms of such alternative employment or otherwise, legally liable to pay to the worker, in the event of his retrenchment, compensation on the basis that his service has been continuous and has not been interrupted by such alternative employment.
(3) For the purposes of sub-sections (1) and (2), the expressions "minerals" and "mining operations" shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (a) and (d) of section 3 of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957.
(4) Where any undertaking set up for the construction of buildings, bridges, roads, canals, dams or other construction work is closed down on account of the completion of the work within two years from the date on which the undertaking had been set up, no worker employed therein shall be entitled to any compensation under clause (b) of section 70, but if the construction work is not so completed within two years, he shall be entitled to notice and compensation under that section for every completed year of continuous service or any part thereof in excess of six months.
