Chandigarh: In a major decision, the Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill for regularisation of services of 36,000 employees who were working on contract, ad hoc, daily wages and temporary basis in different government departments.
The cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, gave nod to the Punjab Protection and Regularization of Contractual Employees Bill-2021 for regularisation of the services of employees.
The bill will be tabled in the assembly for enactment.
“In a major decision, the cabinet today decided to regularise 36,000 employees…. It is a big gift for employees,” Channi told reporters.
A spokesperson of the chief minister’s office said with this decision, the services of nearly 36,000 employees with more than 10 years of service would be regularised.
The assembly election in Punjab is due early next year.
Several contractual and outsourced employees had been protesting against the state government, demanding regularisation of their services.
In another decision, the cabinet approved the enhancement of minimum wages with effect from March 1, 2020.
The revision in minimum wage based on consumer price index was due on March 1, 2020. It has now been increased by ₹ 415.89 from ₹ 8,776.83 to ₹ 9,192.72.
With the hike in minimum wage, a worker would also be entitled to get arrears of ₹ 8,251 from March 1, 2020 up to October, 2021, the chief minister said.
In another move, the cabinet decided to repeal the Punjab Contract Farming Act, 2013.
“Keeping in view the dilemma/fear in the minds of the producers/farmers of the state due to the strict provisions incorporated in the Punjab Contract Farming Act, 2013 like imprisonment, monetary penalties and other rigorous punishments, the cabinet decided to repeal the aforesaid Act in the larger interest of Punjab farmers,” according to a government statement.
Channi said that his government will bring a bill related to the power purchase pacts, resolutions on the Centre’s farm laws and the Centre’s notification on extending the BSF’s jurisdiction.
