No Job Security for Outsourced Workers, Himachal Govt Confirms
The Himachal Pradesh government has clarified in the Assembly that there is no permanent policy to regularise outsourced employees, leaving nearly 13,000 workers uncertain about their future.
Responding to questions from MLAs Prakash Rana and Dr. Janak Raj, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said outsourced staff are not considered government employees, and there is no proposal to frame a policy for their regularisation.
Officials explained that outsourcing is used only for certain services, hired through a tender process under the Himachal Pradesh Financial Rules, 2009. Regular posts are not filled through this route.
Highlighting the state’s financial burden, the Chief Minister noted that the government spends around ₹1,172 crore every month on salaries and allowances for regular and contractual employees, compared to just ₹19 crore for outsourced staff. Pension payments also weigh heavily on the exchequer, with ₹10,536 crore disbursed in 2024–25.
The government pointed out that guidelines issued in 2017 and 2021 safeguard outsourced workers, requiring service providers to pay salaries by the 7th of each month. Officials said no complaints of delayed payments have been reported since these rules came into effect.
For thousands of outsourced employees, however, the absence of a clear path to regularisation means continued uncertainty, even as they remain an essential part of the state’s workforce.
