Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Govt Outsourcing Employees Federation, along with several MLAs and MPs, has written letters to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi highlighting the plight of outsourced employees working across various state departments. These workers face significant challenges, including job insecurity, low and irregular wages, lack of social security benefits, and the absence of a structured service framework. The federation has urged the government to formulate a uniform and transparent policy for outsourced employees.
Political Support for Outsourced Workers
Six MLAs — Jay Dholakia from Nuapada, Ashwini Kumar Sarangi (Bargarh), Sofia Firdous (Barabati-Cuttack), Susant Kumar Rout (Bhubaneswar North), Bibhuti Bhusan Balabantaray (Jatni), and Romancha Ranjan Biswal (Deogarh) — along with two MPs — Pradeep Purohit from Bargarh and Pratap Sarangi from Balasore — have written to the chief minister seeking assistance for these employees.
Demands and Recommendations
In her letter to the CM dated Saturday, Sofia Firdous called for fair wages, timely payment, and basic social security benefits. She also urged the government to examine the possibility of service security and regularization for eligible employees. Furthermore, she proposed the constitution of a dedicated committee to thoroughly examine the issues, assess the feasibility of reforms, and recommend appropriate measures for their welfare.
Bijay Malla, chief adviser to the Odisha Govt Outsourcing Employees Federation, emphasized that when Odisha's financial condition was weak and regular recruitment was not taking place, outsourced employees continued to provide services for many years. He stated, “Now that the financial situation has improved, the state government should give priority consideration to these employees.”
Comparisons with Other States
Malla pointed out that following the Supreme Court's directive on 'equal pay for equal work,' neighboring West Bengal has provided a salary of Rs 40,000 to such employees. Similarly, states like Haryana and Telangana are taking steps to regularize outsourced employees. “We have hope and confidence that the chief minister of Odisha will certainly help the federation,” he added.
The federation's demands come at a time when the state's financial health has improved, making it feasible to address the long-standing issues of outsourced workers. The letters from elected representatives underscore the growing political support for these employees, who have been demanding better conditions for years.
