Browns & Company PLC vs Minister of Labour et al. – SC APPEAL NO. 108/08-2011

In the case between Browns & Company PLC (formerly Brown & Co.) as Petitioner and parties including the Minister of Labour, the Commissioner General of Labour, and identified employees such as D. A. Wijewardhane and S. N. Wickramasinghe as Respondents, the Supreme Court addressed the legality of withdrawing company-provided vehicle facilities and the resultant entitlement to a travelling allowance. It was held that, despite the transfer of employment to Browns Engineering, a consistent expectation regarding the continuation of transport benefits existed for the affected employees, and the arbitrator’s award of a uniform travelling allowance did not constitute unreasonableness under the principles established by the Industrial Disputes Act. The core legal principle reaffirmed is the broad e