AP teachers’ forum demands regularisation of contract employees

Vijayawada: State president of the teachers’ associations coordination forum, Vonteru Srinivasulu Reddy, has urged the state govt to immediately abolish the long-standing contract and outsourcing employment system and regularise all such employees on the lines of the Punjab government. Speaking to the media here on Sunday, Srinivasulu Reddy welcomed the decision of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt in Punjab to end the contract employment system and approve the regularisation of 65,048 contract and outsourcing employees working in 51 govt departments.He described the Punjab govt’s move to directly absorb group-C and group-D outsourcing employees who have completed five years of service into regular govt service through the Punjab Outsourced Personnel Bill, 2026, as a revolutionary step. Recalling similar measures taken by the Odisha govt in the past, he said several states have already moved towards regularising contract employees. He also pointed out that the Supreme Court had earlier observed that the contract employment system should not continue in the public sector.Srinivasulu Reddy said contract and outsourcing employees have been facing exploitation for years, working for meagre salaries without job security despite rendering valuable services to govt departments. He stressed that the time had come to end this practice and provide dignity and stability to thousands of workers. He urged the state govt not to delay the matter further and to take an immediate decision that would bring relief and improve the lives of contract and outsourcing employees across the state. “The govt should act without procrastination and take steps to regularise all eligible contract and outsourcing employees, thereby bringing light into the lives of thousands of families dependent on these jobs,” he said.