1) Regularising Contractual and Temporary Workforce
On 22nd March, 2022, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that his government would regularise the services of 35,000 Group C and D contractual staff.
“Today AAP Punjab Govt has taken another historic decision and started the process to regularize 35,000 contractual government employees. We’re here to fulfill every promise made to people before the election. We’ve come to change the system.”
“I have asked the Chief Secretary to stop the practice of contractual employment. While schools are without staff, eligible teachers are holding protests for jobs or regularisation. This must end.”
– Bhagwant Mann, Chief Minister of Punjab – 22nd Mar 2022 (Links 1 and 2)
In the meantime, the services of contractual employees were extended by one year.
The budget allocation for the regularisation of 36,000 contractual employees was announced in the 2022-2023 Budget Speech by the Finance Minister, Harpal Singh Cheema.
“Our contractual workforce who worked tirelessly were shunned beneath the doormats and remained unrewarded for their relentless efforts by the previous governments. Taking cognizance of this valuable human resource asset and to render them with job security, our Government has accepted the long standing demand of regularization of 36,000 contractual employees. An additional provision of ₹540 crore is hereby proposed in this budget.”
– Harpal Singh Cheema, Finance Minister in Budget Speech 2022-2023 (Link)
On 5th Sep 2022, the Punjab cabinet approved the policy to regularise the services of adhoc, contractual and temporary teachers in Group C and Group D posts who fulfil the eligibility criteria, thereby benefitting more than 9000 employees of the state government. They will be continued in service till the age of 58 years by placing them in a special cadre. This step will ensure that such employees do not suffer from uncertainty and harassment, and will grant them a security of tenure.
2) Providing Jobs to Eminent Sportspersons
On 19th July 2022, Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer announced that a new policy was being formulated for providing government jobs to eminent players at National and International level and medal winners in the big tournament winners.
3) One-Time Relaxation in Age Limit for Education Providers / Education Volunteers
On 6th Aug 2022, School Education Minister, Harjot Singh Bains, announced that the Punjab government had ordered a one-time relaxation in age limit for education providers / education volunteers. This came as a huge relief for these contract employees who had already crossed the age limit for direct recruitment, enabling them to compete for regular jobs through direct recruitment for ETT Teachers posts. This move will enable about 12,000 education providers / education volunteers / EGS (Education Guarantee Scheme) / AIE (Alternative and Innovative Education) and STR (Special Trainer) volunteers to apply for 5994 ETT (Elementary Teacher Training) posts on the basis of their experience.
4) 58 Law Officers Posts Reserved for SCs
On 21st Aug 2022, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the 58 new posts of law officers that were being created in the Advocate-General’s office would be reserved for Scheduled Castes. The decision was taken after consulting legal experts. With this, Punjab becomes the first state in the country to have such a provision for SC lawyers.
