Just about three months ahead of the assembly elections, the Punjab government on Tuesday announced the regularisation in service of over 30,000 temporary staff with immediate effect.
These employees are working on contract, ad hoc, daily wages, temporary and work-charged basis in government departments, boards, corporations and societies in the state.
"The decision will also impact thousands of employees working on contract through private outsourcing agencies or contractors, as they will now become contract employees of the state government. This decision comes into force with immediate effect," a state government spokesperson said.
The Punjab Cabinet approved the decision at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here on Tuesday.
A proposal on the issue was cleared on Monday at a meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
The Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance government is ruling the state since 2007.
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The alliance government, during its previous tenure (2007-2012), had regularised over 45,000 contractual and temporary employees.
Elections for the 117-member Punjab assembly are likely in January-February next year.
--IANS
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