Regularisation of casual employees has been an unsolved issue though State Government presented a humane face by extending regular wages to over 60,000 such youth engaged by the government departments last year. Government employment policy needs to be relooked so that these casual employees demand for regularisation does not hit roadblocks. Most of these employees have put in a good number of years in service with a hope to get regularised alongwith the held back benefits. It was during the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s rule government had announced to create 15,000 jobs and to fast track the process. The government at that time had decided not only to skip the norms, but also recruits be paid only half their salaries for seven years during probation period. They will be only regularised after receiving satisfactory reports about their performance. Already State Government departments are over staffed by these casual workers of which many of them have already covered more than two decades of service. These sections have been on protest over the government order calling for screening test of Rehber-e-Taleem teachers and even the State High Court too called the order is not in tune with the Court directions and expressed concern over the street protests by teachers. All this had taken place at a time when the State Cabinet in last June had approved Jammu and Kashmir Special Recruitment Ordinance-2015 to fast track the appointment of contractual employees. Under the policy, fresh appointments made were to be regularised but the effect of regularisation will be given after five years of service. The five years will be considered as probationary. For the five years, the new recruits will get minimum basic pay and grade pay. All other benefits will be given after regularisation of the services. No doubt a section of them were absorbed but majority pinned hope on the Governor rule after the political stalemate. Today most of them are a dejected lot. In October last Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu had persuaded the protesting daily wagers to break the fast and told them that the State Government will examine their demands sympathetically and take an appropriate decision soon. Drabu at that time had announced formulation of a comprehensive plan to address the issues relating to the plight of daily wagers, ad hoc, contractual and all other such categories of
temporary workers.
