Chandigarh, May 30
The Punjab Cabinet has approved a proposal to introduce two new laws to end the practice of recruiting employees through contractual and outsourcing arrangements in government departments across the state.
The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh on Saturday. According to the state government, the proposed legislation aims to provide greater employment security to thousands of workers currently engaged through contractual and outsourced arrangements.
Chief Minister Mann announced that the government plans to introduce the Punjab State Outsourced Personnel Bill, 2026, and the Punjab State Contractual Personnel Bill, 2026, before the Punjab Assembly.
Describing the decision as a significant step, Mann said the move would benefit 65,048 employees working across 51 government departments. He said workers hired through contractual and outsourcing mechanisms had often raised concerns regarding job insecurity and workplace conditions during public interactions with the government.
The Chief Minister stated that eligible employees would receive facilities and benefits similar to those available to regular government staff under the proposed framework.
As part of the process, the Punjab government will send an ordinance to the Governor for approval before placing the bills before the state Assembly for consideration.
The move is expected to bring major changes to the state’s employment structure and could affect thousands of workers serving in government departments under non-regular recruitment arrangements. Further details are likely to emerge once the proposed legislation is formally introduced.
