Section 27 in The Maharashtra Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Rules, 1968
27. Canteens.
(1)The employer of every industrial premises wherein not less than 250 employees are ordinarily employed shall provide in or near, the industrial premises, a canteen.(2)The canteen shall not be situated within 15.2 metres of any latrine, urinal or any other source of dust, smoke or obnoxious fumes.(3)The canteen building shall consist of at least a dining hall, kitchen, storeroom and pantry in addition to washing places separately for male and female employees and for utensils.(4)The minimum height of the building shall be not less than 3.7 metres and all the walls and roof shall be of suitable heat-resisting materials and shall be water proof. There shall be provision for adequate ventilation. The doors and windows shall be of fire proof construction.(5)The canteen shall be sufficiently lighted at all times when any person has access to it.(6)(a)In every canteen -(i)all inside walls of the rooms and all ceilings and passages and staircases shall be lime-washed or colour-washed at least once in each year or painted once in three years dating from the period when last lime-washed or colour washed or painted, as the case may be;(ii)all wood-work shall be varnished or painted once in three years dating from the period when last varnished or painted;(iii)all internal structural iron or steel work shall be varnished or painted once in three years dating from the period from when last varnished or painted :Provided that, the inside portion of the walls of the kitchen shall be lime-washed once in every four months.(b)The dates on which lime-washing, colour washing, varnishing or painting is carried out shall be entered by the employer in the register maintained in Form III.(7)The precincts of the canteen shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Waste water shall be carried away in suitable covered drains and shall not be allowed to accumulate so as to cause a nuisance. Suitable arrangements shall be made for the collection and disposal of garbage.(8)(a)The dining hall shall accommodate at a time at least 30 per cent, of the employees working at a time.(b)The floor of the dining hall, excluding the area occupied by the service counter and any furniture except tables and chairs shall be not less than 93 square metres per dinner to be accommodated as specified in clause (a).(c)A portion of the dining hall and service counter shall be partitioned off and reserved for women employees in proportion to their number. Washing places for women shall be separate and screened to secure privacy.(d)Sufficient tables, stools, chairs or benches shall be available for the number of dinners to be accommodated as specified in clause (a).(9)(a)There shall be provided and maintained sufficient utensils, crockery, cutlery, furniture and any other equipment necessary for the efficient running of the canteen. Suitable clean clothes for the employees serving in the canteen shall also be provided and maintained.(b)The furniture, utensils and other equipment shall be maintained in a clean and hygienic condition. Service counter, if provided, shall have a top of smooth and impervious material. Suitable facilities including an adequate supply of hot water shall be provided for the cleaning of the utensils and equipment.(c)Food and food material shall be stored in fly proof safe and handled with the help of wooden lables or suitable metal forceps, whichever is convenient. Vessels once used shall be scalded, before being used again.(10)Food, drinks and other items served in the canteen shall be served on a no profit no loss basis; and in computing the charges to be made for such food, drink of other items, the following items shall not be taken into consideration, namely :-(a)the rent for the land and building;(b)the depreciation and maintenance charges of the building and equipment provided for the canteen;(c)the cost of purchase, repairs and replacement of equipment, including furniture, crockery, cutlery and utensils;(d)the water charges and other charges incurred for lighting and ventilation; and(e)the interest on the amounts spent on the provision of maintenance of furniture and equipment provided for the canteen :Provided that, where the canteen is managed by a co-operative society registered or deemed to be registered under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960, such society may include in the charges to be made for any such food, drink or other items served, a profit upto 5 per cent, on its working capital employed in running the canteen :Provided further that, nothing in this rule shall apply in respect of such industrial premises as the State Government may by an order specify in this behalf, regard being had to the accommodation provided therein.
