Workplace · For citizens
Fired? Your pay is due in 2 working days.
In short
In Punjab and KP, when an employer ends your job, the wages you earned must be paid before the second working day ends. If they are not, you have three years to claim.
By the FAI Legal editorial desk · 10 October 2026 · 11 slides · 2 min read
Myth or fact?
What employers tell workers.
- Myth: We will clear your last salary whenever accounts get to it.
- Fact: When the employer ends your job, wages earned must be paid before the second working day ends (Payment of Wages Act s.5(2)).
The rule in the Act.
Section 5(2). Same words in Punjab and KP.
“Where the employment of any person is terminated by or on behalf of the employer, the wages earned by him shall be paid before the expiry of the second working day from the day on which his employment is terminated.”
Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (Punjab) · Section 5(2), Time of payment of wages
Regular salary has a deadline too.
Section 5(1) and (4).
- Under 1,000 workersPay before the 7th day after the wage period ends.
- 1,000 or morePay before the 10th day.
- Working dayAll wages must be paid on a working day.
Does it cover me?
Check where you work.
- PunjabFactories, industrial and commercial establishments, and railways (s.1(4)).
- Khyber PakhtunkhwaIts own Payment of Wages Act, 2013, with the same 2-day rule.
- ElsewhereAsk FAI which law applies to your workplace.
Quick quiz. How long to claim?
Guess first, then swipe for the answer.
- A. 30 days
- B. 1 year
- C. 3 years
Answer: C. Three years.
Section 15(2), first proviso.
- Three yearsFrom the date the wages were due to be paid.
- Later still?Can be admitted if you show sufficient cause for the delay (second proviso).
- DeductionsSame period, from the date the deduction was made.
How to claim it.
Section 15, Payment of Wages Act.
- ApplyTo the Authority, a Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation or other notified officer.
- Who can fileYou, your lawyer, a union official, an Inspector, or your heirs.
- The orderPay the wages, plus compensation: up to 10 times a wrong deduction, up to Rs 1,000 for delay.
What courts look at.
Real cases, Punjab.
- Paper winsThe employer won with receipts and the worker's own letter acknowledging his dues (2016 PLC 220).
- Your fileKeep your appointment letter, factory card, Social Security and EOBI cards (same case).
- Employer appealsMust first deposit the amount ordered, or the appeal fails (2019 PLC 25, Lahore High Court).
Salary stuck?
Ask FAI in your own words. It answers with the exact law and the judgments behind it.
- My factory fired me two weeks ago and has not paid my last salary. What can I do?
- Draft an application under section 15 of the Payment of Wages Act.
Example questions
What this does not mean
- The 2 working day rule applies when the employer ends your job. The article covers the Punjab and KP Payment of Wages Acts only.
- In Punjab the Act covers factories, industrial and commercial establishments, and railways (s.1(4)). Other workplaces may fall under a different law.
- Claims after three years are not automatic. They are admitted only if you show sufficient cause for the delay.
Questions people ask
How many days does an employer have to pay final salary in Pakistan?
In Punjab and KP, when the employer ends your job, wages earned must be paid before the second working day after termination ends (Payment of Wages Act s.5(2)).
When must monthly salary be paid in Punjab?
Where fewer than 1,000 workers are employed, before the 7th day after the wage period ends. Where 1,000 or more, before the 10th day. Wages must be paid on a working day (s.5).
How long do I have to claim unpaid salary?
Three years from the date the wages were due (s.15(2), first proviso). A later claim can be admitted if you show sufficient cause. For a wrong deduction, three years from the date it was made.
Where can I complain about unpaid salary in Punjab?
Under s.15 you apply to the Authority, a Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation or another notified officer. You, your lawyer, a union official, an Inspector or your heirs can file.
What can the authority order the employer to pay?
The wages, plus compensation of up to 10 times a wrong deduction, or up to Rs 1,000 for delay. An employer who appeals must first deposit the amount ordered (2019 PLC 25).
Sources
- Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (Punjab) · Section 5(2)
Time of payment of wages Punjab Code
Educational legal information, not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts. Speak to a qualified lawyer about your situation. Review status: Pending advocate review. How we check.
