The Punjab Protection and Regulation of Contractual Employees Bill-2021 was approved to regularize the services of the employees in a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.
The bill will be introduced in the assembly for enactment.
“In a major decision, the cabinet today decided to regularize 36,000 employees… It is a big gift for the employees,” Channi told reporters.
A spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that with this decision, the services of about 36,000 employees with more than 10 years of service would be regularised.
Assembly elections are due in Punjab early next year.
Many contractual and outsourced workers were protesting against the state government demanding regularization of their services.
In another decision, the cabinet approved an increase in the minimum wage with effect from March 1, 2020.
The revision in the minimum wage based on the Consumer Price Index was to take place on March 1, 2020. How much has it increased now? from 415.89 8,776.83 to 9,192.72.
With the increase in minimum wage, an employee will also be entitled to get arrears of 8,251 from March 1, 2020 to October, 2021, the chief minister said.
In another move, the cabinet decided to repeal the Punjab Contract Agriculture Act, 2013.
The Cabinet decided to repeal the above, keeping in view the dilemma/fear in the minds of the growers/farmers of the State due to the strict provisions contained in the Punjab Contract Farming Act, 2013 such as imprisonment, fine and other harsh punishments. Work in the larger interest of the farmers of Punjab.”
Channi said his government will bring in bills related to power purchase agreements, Centre’s resolution on agriculture laws and Centre’s notification on expanding BSF’s jurisdiction.
The cabinet also approved the Punjab Energy Security, Abolition of PPA and Rescheduling of Power Tariff Bill, 2021.
With the passage of this bill, power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Nabha Power Ltd and Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd will be sent to the electricity regulator Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission for rescheduling of tariff.
The cabinet approved the Punjab Renewable Energy Security, Reforms, Abolition and Re-fixation of Electricity Tariff Bill, 2021, which aims to evolve statutory measures for sustainable growth of the power sector and provide electricity to consumers on an affordable basis. ,
The cabinet also approved the Punjab One-time Voluntary Disclosure and Settlement of Violation of Building Bill, 2021 for all unauthorized constructions up to September 30, 2021.
The cabinet approved the Punjab (Institutional and Other Buildings) Tax Repeal Bill, 2021 to waive off arrears in all cases.
The Punjab (Institutional and Other Buildings) Tax Act was implemented on industrial and other institutional buildings falling outside the limits of the Municipal Corporation. Relief from this decision 250 crore to the beneficiaries
It also approved to introduce the Punjab Horticulture Nursery Bill-2021 in the Vidhan Sabha session by amending the Punjab Agricultural Produce Market Act, 1961 and amending the Punjab Fruit Nursery Act, 1961.
The Cabinet approved amendments to the Punjab Financial Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003, to take advantage of the normal net borrowing limit of 4 per cent of the estimated Gross State Domestic Product in the financial year 2021-22.
Meanwhile, in a notification, the state government decided to terminate the services of retired employees re-employed in various government departments.
This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed. Only the title has been changed.
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