Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 · Chapter V: Welfare and Health of Contract Labour
Section 16: Canteens
The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 was repealed and replaced by the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 from 21 November 2025. It still applies to matters and proceedings from before that date, as the repealing law provides.
(1) The appropriate Government may make rules requiring that in every establishment—
(a) to which this Act applies,
(b) wherein work requiring employment of contract labour is likely to continue for such period as may be prescribed, and
(c) wherein contract labour numbering one hundred or more is ordinarily employed by a contractor, one or more canteens shall be provided and maintained by the contractor for the use of such contract labour.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for—
(a) the date by which the canteens shall be provided;
(b) the number of canteens that shall be provided, and the standards in respect of construction, accommodation, furniture and other equipment of the canteens; and
(c) the foodstuffs which may be served therein and the charges which may be made therefor.
Source: India Code (Legislative Department), the text of the Act as it stood before its repeal. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 16
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.