If you are a factory owner engaging a workforce of over 250 people, you have to mandatorily provide canteen facility on your premises.
In a significant decision delivered last week, the Supreme Court held that canteen amenity is an essential human right and an important facet of labour welfare, which no company or employer can deny to its employees, particularly in units which have more than 250 labourers.
This is the first time that the court has held right to canteen as part of labour rights, essentially meaning that any employee can go to Court seeking canteen facility, if denied by the company or employer. This order came on a petition by the canteen employees working in a canteen in Moradabad Division of the Northern Railways.
Any canteen operating within the premises of any Railways establishment across the country requires approval from the Railway Board. Once approval is granted, the canteen becomes a “statutory canteen” recognised by the Railways and its employees get absorbed as permanent employees of Railways getting access to all perks and benefits, available to any other Railways employees.
The Moradabad Division canteen, which was in operation for past 75 years and catered to close to 900 employees, was derecognized by the Railway Board on September 9, 2002.
