The Punjab Cabinet on Saturday decided to offer government contracts to more than 65,000 outsourced employees by giving the nod to bring two bills aimed at ending the practice of hiring employees through the outsourcing system in government departments.
The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting held in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Mann said two bills — the Punjab State Outsourced Personnel Bill, 2026 and the Punjab State Contractual Personnel Bill, 2026 — will be brought in the state assembly and an ordinance in this regard was being sent to Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria.
Employees engaged in high-risk occupations will be eligible for benefits after completing three years of service, while employees in other categories will qualify after completing five years of service. Salary payments will be credited directly to employees’ bank accounts.
A total of 65,048 outsourced workers across 51 government departments will be regularised. No employee’s services will be terminated without due process, including the issuance of a formal notice and an opportunity to present their case.
Employees will be entitled to all service-related benefits in accordance with government rules. The beneficiaries include 8,000 workers employed in dangerous roles, such as firefighters and sewerage workers.
(With inputs from PTI)
