Karnataka Implements Reservation For Women In Government Contract Jobs
For the first time, the Karnataka government is implementing a reservation policy in outsourced contract jobs. Karnataka government, fulfilling its poll promise, issued an order that mandates the 33% reservation for women in outsourced government contract jobs across all the departments. The ruling Congress party promised it in the assembly elections held in 2023.
The decision aligns with the reservation policy for the appointment of permanent government positions. Currently, there are over 75,000 jobs that were outsourced in government departments. Reportedly, the government took the decision in December 2023 to ensure social justice and equal employment opportunities.
The circular specifies that the rule applies to all government departments, autonomous bodies, corporations, boards and universities.
The government usually hires third-party agencies to recruit personnel for Group – C and Group – D posts, such as drivers, cleaning and data entry operators. The order from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms mentions that the reservation policy applies to outsourced jobs that last more than 45 days and employ over 20 people.
The government order also says that if an employee resigns, the vacancy must be filled by the person from the same reservation category. There must be a minimum percentage of reservation for SC, ST and Backward classes with 33% posts reserved for women.
The minimum age of recruitment is 18 years and the maximum age is 60 years and employees cannot be made permanent under any circumstance, the circular notifies.
According to the policy department issuing tenders or seeking exemptions under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act must ensure that the outsourcing agencies provide details of their employees to the tendering agencies. The agencies must submit the caste certificates of the personnel before deployment.
In May 2022, BJP government had directed all departments to reserve 33% seats for women in outsourced employment.
Karnataka has 2.5 lakh vacant government jobs against a sanctioned strength of 7.72 lakh posts across 43 departments.
