Punjab Government Regularises Services of 516 Forest Department Employees

Chandigarh, July 2026 : The Punjab Government on Monday regularised the services of 516 contractual and daily-wage employees of the Forest Department, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann handing over appointment letters at a special ceremony and reaffirming his government’s commitment to phasing out the contract employment system.

The employees who received regular appointments include drivers, beldars and other Class IV staff who had served the department for several years on contractual and daily-wage basis. The move is aimed at providing long-term job security and improving the welfare of government employees who have spent years working without permanent status.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Mann congratulated the newly regularised employees and their families, stating that more than 500 workers had now officially become permanent members of the Punjab Government workforce. He said the decision marks a significant step towards recognising the dedication and service of employees who had continued to perform their duties despite years of uncertainty.

The Chief Minister observed that contractual employees had long faced anxiety over their future, including concerns related to retirement benefits, pensions and financial security for their families. With their services now regularised, he said, these employees can look forward to a more secure and stable future.

Mann revealed that when the proposal came before the state Cabinet, the government decided to relax educational qualification and upper age criteria for eligible workers. He noted that many of these employees had already completed 10, 15 or even 20 years of service and would have become ineligible for regular appointments under conventional recruitment rules despite their vast experience.

Referring to the long-standing practice of temporary employment, the Chief Minister remarked that while temporary structures and makeshift arrangements have largely disappeared from society, it was unfortunate that governments had continued to keep employees on temporary appointments for decades. He assured that the process of regularising eligible workers would continue in other government departments as well.

Launching a strong criticism of the outsourcing and contractual employment system, Mann alleged that contractors often received full payments from the government but failed to pass on complete salaries to employees. He claimed that many workers were compelled to sign salary records showing full payment while receiving much lower wages, besides being denied leave and facing the constant threat of dismissal without prior notice.

“The exploitation of workers through the contract system cannot continue,” Mann asserted, adding that his government is determined to gradually eliminate the contractual employment model and ensure fair treatment, dignity and job security for employees.

The regularisation of 516 Forest Department employees forms part of the Punjab Government’s broader initiative to provide permanent employment to eligible contractual and daily-wage workers across various departments, reinforcing its commitment to employee welfare and administrative reforms.

Team Maverick.