The Supreme Court held yesterday that the workers employed by a contractor in statutory canteens in industries and factories were not entitled to be absorbed in the main establishment. These canteens are set up as an obligation under the labour laws for the welfare of the employees. Normally, the canteens are run by contractors.
In this case, some 700 workers of the canteen run for the benefit of the employees of the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation argued that they were working in the canteen for many years, under several contractors, and therefore they were entitled to the wage benefits of the corporation itself. The Supreme Court rejected their demand.