New policy to end contractor-based hiring,

provide job security and create a pathway to permanent government employment

Chandigarh, 30 May (H.S.): Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh

Mann on Saturday approved a comprehensive roadmap aimed at ending the

decades-old contractual employment system and paving the way for the

regularisation of more than 65,000 workers across various government

departments.

The Cabinet approved a series of legal and

administrative measures designed to establish a direct employer-employee

relationship between the state government and thousands of workers currently

engaged through private contractors. The move is expected to provide

long awaited job security, dignity, and a clear pathway to permanent service

for employees who have spent years working without regular status.

As part of the reform, the Cabinet approved

the repeal of the Punjab Adhoc, Contractual, Daily Wage, Temporary, Work

Charged and Outsourced Employees’ Welfare Act, 2016. It also cleared the Punjab

State Outsourced Personnel (Transition to Contractual Engagement) Bill, 2026,

and the Punjab Contractual Personnel (Absorption Against Sanctioned Vacancies)

Bill, 2026. These measures will enable outsourced employees to come directly

under government employment and eventually become eligible for regular posts.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that

more than 65,000 contract workers had devoted the best years of their lives to

serving Punjab and that the government was now ensuring they received the

recognition and security they deserved. He stated that the contractor system

would no longer stand between employees and the government.

Under the new policy, Group C and Group D

outsourced employees who have completed five years of continuous service will

be brought under direct government contractual employment. Workers engaged in

hazardous duties, including fire services personnel, PSPCL linemen, sewer

workers, sanitation staff and waste-handling employees, will become eligible

after three years of service. After completing ten years of contractual

service, employees will be considered for absorption against sanctioned regular

posts.

According to the government, 65,048 outsourced

workers across 51 departments fall within the scope of the reform, with more

than 26,000 employees expected to benefit in the first phase. Major

beneficiaries include workers from the power sector, local government bodies,

cooperative institutions, school education, transport, health, agriculture,

water supply and sanitation departments.

The government has also introduced employee

welfare measures, including direct transfer of wages into bank accounts,

maternity benefits, ten days of casual leave annually, and protection against

arbitrary dismissal. An Empowered Committee headed by the Chief Secretary will

oversee implementation, which is expected to begin within 45 days of Cabinet

approval.

Calling

the move a historic reform, CM Mann said Punjab was reversing the growing trend

of contractualisation and taking decisive steps to ensure fair and secure

employment for thousands of workers across the state.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH