Legislation likely to prohibit outsourcing of manpower in government offices

In a bid to prohibit outsourcing of personnel at government offices by March 2028, and to ensure regular employment, the State government is likely to bring a legislation.

At present, an estimated 3 lakh persons are working as outsourced employees or on contract across the State, and these personnel have been deployed through manpower agencies.

Cabinet panel report

A Cabinet sub-committee headed by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil that is looking into the outsourcing of personnel is expected to submit a detailed report that has come after deliberations before the Cabinet, government sources said.

The sub-committee has been set up to study job security for outsourced employees, problems of outsourcing in government sector, and a recent Supreme Court order in this regard.

It is expected to recommend the Karnataka Outsourced Employees (Regulation, Placement and Welfare) Bill, 2025, to prohibit the outsourcing of personnel. The committee wound up discussions on Thursday. Sources said that the committee has decided to recommend to the government to stop the outsourcing of manpower from private agencies/ NGOs completely.

3 lakh jobs

It has identified at least 3 lakh jobs that has been filled by outsourced or contract employees or other ways, violating the constitutional and legal provisions that govern such employment. It has also found that since these posts are being filled through manpower hiring agencies, meritorious and eligible candidates are missing out on opportunities. Further, the reservation matrix available for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes are not being adhered to when manpower is outsourced.

The sub-committee is likely to ask the government to ensure filling up of vacant posts in various departments and while doing so not to violate Article 14 and Article 15 of the Constitution.

“To prevent problems for outsourced personnel and prevent harassment from agencies, a society will be formed at the district level and will be headed by the Deputy Commissioner,” said a source.

To be done in stages

Mr. Patil is learnt to have said that the decision on job security for outsourced employees will be taken in stages. These include those employed in hazardous jobs in the Energy and the Health Departments, mine workers and pourakarmikas among others. Labour Minister Santosh Lad is learnt to have expressed willingness to absorb those on hazardous job to ensure job security.