Legal Notice for Unpaid Salary / Wages Dues Format
A legal notice for unpaid salary is a formal demand to an employer to release withheld wages, dues, or final settlement within a stated period, usually 15 days. It relies on the Code on Wages, 2019, which replaced the Payment of Wages Act from 21 November 2025, and the employment contract, and precedes a Section 45 wage claim or a civil suit.
When to send this notice
Use this notice when an employer has withheld salary, delayed the full and final settlement, or refused wages, gratuity, or reimbursements that are due. It records the demand, sets a deadline, and lays the groundwork for a statutory or civil claim if the employer still does not pay.
Statutory basis
The Code on Wages, 2019 came into force on 21 November 2025 and repealed the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 and the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. Section 17 requires monthly wages to be paid before the 7th day of the next month, and wages to be paid within two working days when an employee is removed, dismissed, retrenched or resigns. Claims for unpaid or wrongly deducted wages go to the authority under Section 45, ordinarily within three years. Money due under a settlement or award can be recovered under Section 59 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, which replaced Section 33C of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. A civil suit for breach of the employment contract under the Indian Contract Act, 1872 remains available where the Code does not bar it.
[ON THE LETTERHEAD OF THE ADVOCATE] By Registered Post A/D & Email Date: [DD/MM/YYYY] To, [Name of Employer / Company] [Registered Office Address] Kind Attn: [HR / Director] Subject: Legal notice for non-payment of salary/dues of Rs. [Amount]. Sir/Madam, Under instructions from my client, [Employee Name], [Designation], employed with you from [date] to [date], I serve upon you the following notice: 1. That my client was employed with your organisation and diligently discharged all duties as per the terms of employment. 2. That a sum of Rs. [Amount] towards [salary for months / notice-pay / full and final settlement / reimbursements] remains unpaid despite my client’s repeated requests dated [dates]. 3. That your failure to release the said dues is unlawful and in breach of Section 17 of the Code on Wages, 2019 and the terms of employment. I therefore call upon you to pay the outstanding amount of Rs. [Amount] to my client within fifteen (15) days of receipt of this notice, failing which my client shall initiate appropriate proceedings, including a claim under Section 45 of the Code on Wages, 2019 and/or a civil suit for recovery with interest and costs, at your risk and expense. [Advocate Name] [Enrolment No. / Contact]
Replace every [placeholder] with your own details before use.
How to send this legal notice
From draft to proof of delivery and the next legal step.
Gather your appointment letter, salary slips, bank statements, and any communication about the dues.
Calculate the exact outstanding amount — salary, notice pay, reimbursements, gratuity, or settlement.
Draft the notice citing the employment terms and Section 17 of the Code on Wages, 2019, with a 15-day deadline.
Have it issued on advocate letterhead and addressed to HR and/or a director.
Serve it by Registered Post A/D and email, keeping proof of dispatch and delivery.
If unpaid, file a wage claim under Section 45 of the Code on Wages, 2019 or a civil recovery suit.
Frequently asked questions
What can I do if my employer does not pay my salary?
Start with a written legal notice demanding payment within 15 days. If the employer still refuses, you can file a claim before the authority under Section 45 of the Code on Wages, 2019, or recover money due under a settlement or award under Section 59 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020. A civil recovery suit is another option.
Does an employee need a lawyer to claim unpaid salary?
A lawyer is not mandatory, but a properly drafted legal notice on advocate letterhead is often more effective and correctly frames the statutory basis, which helps if the matter later goes to a labour authority or court.
What is the time limit to claim unpaid wages?
A claim under Section 45 of the Code on Wages, 2019 can be filed within three years of the claim arising, and the authority may admit a late claim for sufficient cause. A Section 59 application under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 must be made within one year. Contract-based recovery follows the three-year period under the Limitation Act, 1963.
Related notice formats
Legal Notice to Employer for Wrongful Termination Format
Debt & RecoveryCheque Bounce Legal Notice (Section 138 NI Act) Format
Debt & RecoveryLegal Notice for Recovery of Money (Outstanding Dues) Format
Debt & RecoveryLetter of Demand Format (Letter of Demand vs Legal Notice)
Property & TenancyEviction Notice to Tenant (Notice to Quit) Format
ContractsLegal Notice for Breach of Contract Format
From template to tracked notice
Draft from approved formats, dispatch with delivery proof, and get reminded before the reply window closes, then turn an unanswered notice into a case in one click.