.-In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "appropriate Government " means,-

(a) belonging to, or under the control of, the Central Government,

(b) having branches in more than one State,

(c) of a factory belonging to, or under the control of, the Central Government,

(d) of a major port, mine, oilfield or railway company, the Central Government,

(b) "completed year of service " means continuous service for one year;

(c) [ "continuous service " means continuous service as defined in section 2-A;] [ Substituted by Act 26 of 1984, Section 3, for Clause (c) and the Explanations (w.r.e.f. 11.2.1981).]

(d) "controlling authority " means an authority appointed by the appropriate Government under section 3;

(e) [ "employee " means any person (other than an apprentice) who is employed for wages, whether the terms of such employment are express or implied, in any kind of work, manual or otherwise, in or in connection with the work of a factory, mine, oilfield, plantation, port, railway company, shop or other establishment to which this Act applies, but does not include any such person who holds a post under the Central Government or a State Government and is governed by any other Act or by any rules providing for payment of gratuity;].

(f) "employer " means, in relation to any establishment, factory, mine, oilfield, plantation, port, railway company or shop-

(g) "factory " has the meaning assigned to it in clause (m) of section 2 of the Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948);

(h) "family ", in relation to an employee, shall be deemed to consist of-

(i) "major port " has the meaning assigned to it in clause (8) of section 3 of the Indian Ports Act, 1908 (15 of 1908);

(j) "mine " has the meaning assigned to it in clause (j) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952);

(k) [ "notification " means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression "notified " shall be construed accordingly] [Substituted by Act No. 12 of 2018, dated 28.3.2018.]

(l) "oilfield " has the meaning assigned to it in clause (e) of section 3 of the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948 (53 of 1948);

(m) "plantation " has the meaning assigned to it in clause (f) of section 2 of the Plantations Labour Act, 1951 (69 of 1951);

(n) "port " has the meaning assigned to it in clause (4) of section 3 of the Indian Ports Act, 1908 (15 of 1908);

(o) "prescribed " means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(p) "railway company " has the meaning assigned to it in clause (5) of section 3 of the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (9 of 1890);

(q) "retirement " means termination of the service of an employee otherwise than on superannuation;

(r) [ "superannuation ", in relation to an employee, means the attainment by the employee of such age as is fixed in the contract or conditions of service as the age on the attainment of which the employee shall vacate the employment;] [ Substituted by Act 25 of 1984, Section 2, for Clause (r) (w.e.f. 1.7.1984).]

(s) "wages " means all emoluments which are earned by an employee while on duty or on leave in accordance with the terms and conditions of his employment and which are paid or are payable to him in cash and includes dearness allowance but does not include any bonus, commission, house rent allowance, overtime wages and any other allowance.