Explainer: Why certain contractual employees are set to lose their jobs

A recent order of the Haryana Government has sent a section of the contractual employees, recruited through the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam(HKRNL), in a tizzy. The reason: The employees working on the vacant post but not coming under the ambit of the Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Act, 2024, may be shown the door by the state.

What is the new order which has spread panic ?

The order issued by the Office of the Chief Secretary on April 3 primarily deals with contractual staff not covered under the Haryana Contractual Employees( Security of Service) Act,2024, “The State Government has decided that after the joining of the newly-recruited Group C and adjustment of all contractual employees getting benefits of security of service under the Haryana Contractual Employees( Security of Service) Act, 2024, if the vacant posts are not available in the departments/boards/corporations, then the contractual employees initially engaged through the Part I and II of the Outsourcing Policy or the HKRNL will be relieved. They will be relieved by applying the principle of ‘first in, first out’ i.e. the contractual staff with the most length of engagement to be relieved first,” said an order issued by the Office of the Chief Secretary.

What is the provocation for the issuing of the new order?

The Haryana Government wants to give posting to the recently-recruited Group C employees, who have been recruited through the Common Eligibility Test (CET) conducted by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC).

Which contractual staff will get benefit of security of service?

If the post is already occupied by a contractual employee engaged under the outsourcing policy or through the HKRNL before August 15, 2019, such employee will not be relieved. Instead, his case would be processed by the department concerned for grant of benefit of security of service under the Haryana Contractual Employees(Security of Service)Act, 2024.

 How are contractual employees recruited in Haryana?

The HKRNL was formed in 2021 with the objective of providing contractual manpower to all government entities in Haryana. It acts as the authorised agency for providing contractual manpower in Haryana. Before the nigam, the employees were recruited under the Outsourcing Policy I and II. The Part I primarily dealt with the outsourcing of various services to strengthen the delivery of services to the people. The Part II involved the engagement of persons on contract basis where regular posts existed.

What is employees’ unions reaction to the decision?

The Sarv Karamchari Sangh, apex body of the state government employees, has termed the decision as illegal and without any justification. “Even as the state government is claiming to provide jobs to the unemployed youth, this decision will render a large number of the youth jobless. The government should roll back the order immediately so that no contractual employee is retrenched. “Subhash Lamba, president, Sarv Karamvhari Sangh, said.

Haryana Tribune