I would say it depends on the schedule as per HR practices and the requirements. Canteens are either run by the management themselves, employing their own crew and providing a menu finalized in consultation with union representatives. All the inputs are procured by the firm and provided to the canteens, with qualities checked by the canteen committee. Wherever complaints exist, they are rectified. Some other establishments outsource this service, providing appropriate guidelines, subsidies, and prices to be charged for foodstuffs, etc. This operation is supervised jointly by a committee consisting of union representatives, shop floor supervisors, and HR officials. Generally, meetings are conducted monthly, alternate months, or quarterly as required.
Meeting Frequency of the Canteen Committee as per the Factories Act
What is the meeting frequency of the canteen committee as per the Factories Act? However, if the canteen is managed by a cooperative society registered under the Cooperative Societies Act, it may not be necessary to appoint a canteen managing committee. No meeting frequency is specified in the Acts and Rules, but FWF recommends the committee meet at least every quarter.
Canteen Committee Policy
✔ Canteen Committee should monitor the hygiene and quality of food served in the canteen. ✔ Canteen Committee should plan, control, and evaluate the needs of the canteen for achieving long and short-term goals. ✔ The Committee should decide the menu and items to be sold in the canteen.
Agenda for the Canteen Committee Meeting
What should be the agenda for the canteen committee meeting? The members of the canteen committee are requested to attend the meeting by the issue of a circular from time to time. The agenda for the meeting is: 1) Reconstitution of the committee by nominating new members, if by rotation. 2) Quantity and quality, prices of food items served, timings being served. 3) Replacement of old and damaged furniture, utensils, general upkeep of premises, and so on.
Canteen Requirements as per the Factories Act
What are the canteen requirements as per the Factories Act? If a factory has more than 250 workers, the government of the state where the factory is located can set rules that require the factory owner to provide a canteen for the workers to use. Section 46 of the FA, 1948: Section 46: Canteens The Factories Act, 1948
CHAPTER V: WELFARE
The State Government may make rules requiring that in any specified factory wherein more than two hundred and fifty workers are ordinarily employed, a canteen or canteens shall be provided and maintained by the occupier for the use of the workers.
Simplified Act
If a factory has more than 250 workers, the government of the state where the factory is located can set rules that require the factory owner to provide a canteen for the workers to use.
The rules that the state government can make include:
- When the canteen must be ready by;
- How the canteen should be built, how big it should be, what furniture and equipment it should have;
- What kind of food should be served and how much it can cost;
- How to set up a committee to manage the canteen, including having workers be part of the management;
- What costs of running the canteen should not be included in the price of the food and must be paid by the factory owner;
- Allowing the Chief Inspector to make rules about the food served in the canteen, as long as certain conditions are met.
Explanation using Example
Imagine a textile manufacturing company, "WeaveTech Pvt. Ltd.", which employs around 300 workers. Since the number of workers exceeds 250, as per Section 46 of The Factories Act, 1948, the State Government has enacted rules that require WeaveTech to provide a canteen for its workers. Following these rules, WeaveTech sets up a canteen within its premises by the stipulated date. The canteen is constructed according to the government's standards, providing adequate space, furniture, and equipment. The menu includes healthy and nutritious food options, and the prices for the meals are kept reasonable and affordable for the workers. A managing committee is established, which includes worker representatives to ensure the canteen meets their needs. The employer, WeaveTech, agrees to bear certain expenses for running the canteen, such as utilities and maintenance, so these costs are not included in the price of the food served to the workers.