Punjab govt to regularise 65,000 employees, bring 2 bills to end contract hiring

The Punjab government has approved two bills aimed at ending the practice of hiring employees through contractual and outsourcing systems in government departments.

The decision, taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday, is likely to regularise over 65,000 government employees currently working on a contractual basis.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Mann said the two bills, the Punjab State Outsourced Personnel Bill, 2026 and the Punjab State Contractual Personnel Bill, 2026, will be introduced in the state Assembly.

“The Punjab Cabinet today took a historic decision that we will end the contractual system in Punjab,” Mann said. He added that the move would benefit 65,048 outsourced employees working across 51 departments.

Mann said that during public interactions, the government had repeatedly heard complaints from contractual and outsourced employees about exploitation. He added that the new system would ensure they receive all benefits on par with regular government employees.

He also said that an ordinance in this regard would be sent to the Punjab Governor for approval, and the bills would subsequently be tabled in the state Assembly.

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