What are the guidelines for delayed payment of dues to the MSE borrowers?

The buyer is to make payment on or before the date agreed on between him and the supplier in writing or, in case of no agreement, before the appointed day. The agreement between seller and buyer shall not exceed more than 45 days. If the buyer fails to make payment of the amount to the supplier, he shall be liable to pay compound interest with monthly rests to the supplier on the amount from the appointed day or, on the date agreed on, at three times of the Bank Rate notified by Reserve Bank. For any goods supplied or services rendered by the supplier, the buyer shall be liable to pay the interest as advised above. In case of dispute with regard to any amount due, a reference shall be made to the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council, constituted by the respective State Government. To take care of the payment obligations of large corporate borrowers to MSEs, banks have been advised that while sanctioning/ renewing credit limits to their large corporate borrowers (i.e. borrowers enjoying working capital limits of $ 1.5 million and above from the banking system), to fix separate sub-limits, within the overall limits, specifically for meeting payment obligations in respect of purchases from MSEs either on cash basis or on bill basis. Banks are also advised by RBI to closely monitor the operations in the sub-limits, particularly with reference to their corporate borrowers’ dues to MSE units by ascertaining periodically from their corporate borrowers, the extent of their dues to MSE suppliers and ensuring that the corporate pay off such dues before the ‘appointed day’ /agreed date by using the balance available in the sub-limit so created. In this regard the relevant RBI circular; IECD/5/08.12.01/2000-01 dated October 16, 2000 (reiterated on May 30, 2003, vide circular No. IECD.No.20/08.12.01/2002-03 ) available on RBI website.

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