Dear Experts,
Please help me with the following concern: We have more than 250 employees in the company, with a total of 350 staff members. The question now arises about the provision of canteen facilities as per factory rules.
Is it mandatory to provide food to the employees, or is it sufficient to only provide a canteen space for meals?
Kindly assist me in clarifying this matter with regards to the state of Gujarat.
From India, Vadodara
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6Please help me with the following concern: We have more than 250 employees in the company, with a total of 350 staff members. The question now arises about the provision of canteen facilities as per factory rules.
Is it mandatory to provide food to the employees, or is it sufficient to only provide a canteen space for meals?
Kindly assist me in clarifying this matter with regards to the state of Gujarat.
From India, Vadodara
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This is an interesting point that I often ask.
The rule says you need to provide a canteen facility. The matter is not defined, but it is mostly accepted that a canteen means the food must be provided. Otherwise, it would be called a lunchroom.
You need not provide free food. You can charge for the food (but not to make a profit of more than 5%).
From India, Mumbai
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The rule says you need to provide a canteen facility. The matter is not defined, but it is mostly accepted that a canteen means the food must be provided. Otherwise, it would be called a lunchroom.
You need not provide free food. You can charge for the food (but not to make a profit of more than 5%).
From India, Mumbai
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Dear Sir, Thank you for giving me the clarity in my concern. If you can give me any reference regarding the same it will be more helpful for me for gujarat state.
From India, Vadodara
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From India, Vadodara
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Dear sir,
I agree with the 1st reply given above. The Factories Act, 1948 takes care of the safety, health, and welfare measures of the employees working in the factory. Sec. 46 of the Factories Act, 1948 states that every employer with more than 250 workers has to provide canteen facilities for workers. The Factories Rules of the states also mandate such a requirement for the provision of the canteen. Non-provision of canteen facility would lead to penal action by the State Government.
Now there is not actually an employee category provided, but as per the above statement, as per my understanding, it is a worker category. For officers and above, there is no specific mention about canteen facility, but surely, when canteen facilities come, obviously, food provision, food safety, work safety, health wellness, and Food Regulatory Compliances also come along with it. I hope I have answered your question.
Vadodara
From India, Vadodara
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I agree with the 1st reply given above. The Factories Act, 1948 takes care of the safety, health, and welfare measures of the employees working in the factory. Sec. 46 of the Factories Act, 1948 states that every employer with more than 250 workers has to provide canteen facilities for workers. The Factories Rules of the states also mandate such a requirement for the provision of the canteen. Non-provision of canteen facility would lead to penal action by the State Government.
Now there is not actually an employee category provided, but as per the above statement, as per my understanding, it is a worker category. For officers and above, there is no specific mention about canteen facility, but surely, when canteen facilities come, obviously, food provision, food safety, work safety, health wellness, and Food Regulatory Compliances also come along with it. I hope I have answered your question.
From India, Vadodara
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The provisions of the Factories Act say that you cannot make a profit on canteen operations. But there is nothing to say you can't charge for the food. So obviously, it is not compulsory that the food will be provided free (else there would be no need for a section stating you cannot make a profit).
With reference to Subodh's post, there is only one problem. The Factory Act defines a worker basically as everyone in the factory other than the occupier and the works manager (who have special status). There is no other category. Therefore, the provision for the canteen will apply to everyone whether he is an officer or a worker.
From India, Mumbai
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With reference to Subodh's post, there is only one problem. The Factory Act defines a worker basically as everyone in the factory other than the occupier and the works manager (who have special status). There is no other category. Therefore, the provision for the canteen will apply to everyone whether he is an officer or a worker.
From India, Mumbai
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