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Casual Labourer – DoP&T Information Document: 1. Appointment, Pay/wages, Leave 2. Scheme of 1993 3. Additional Benefits and 4. Regulation of irregularly appointment workers


Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment (C) Section
*******

CASUAL LABOURER

Department of Personnel and Training has issued instructions from time to time regarding various provisions governing the subject of Casual Labourer. These instructions are broadly categorized as under:

  1. Appointment, Pay/wages, Leave of Casual Labourer.
  2. SCHEME OF 1993 (Grant of Temporary Status and Regularisation of Casual Labourer).
  3. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO THE CASUAL LABOURERS WITH TEMPORARY STATUS (CL-TS) IN CONTINUATION OF SCHEME OF 1993.
  4. REGULARISATION OF IRREGULARLY APPOINTED WORKERS (in light of Uma Devi Judgement) 
  5. A). Appointment, Pay/wages, Leave of Casual Labourer

  1. Appointment:

    • Persons on daily wages (casual workers) should not be recruited for work of regular nature.
    • Recruitment of daily wagers may be made only for work which is casual or seasonal or intermittent nature or for work which is not of full time nature, for which regular posts cannot be created.
    • The work presently being done by regular staff should be reassessed by the administrative Departments concerned for output and productivity so that the work being done by the casual workers could be entrusted to the regular employees. The Departments may also review the norms of staff for regular work and take steps to get them revised.

[O.M. No. 49014/2/86-Estt(C) dated 07.06.1988]
[O.M. No. 49014/1/2017-Estt(C) dated 04.09.2019]

    • It has been observed that in spite of strict guidelines on engagement of Casual Labourer vide the above referred O.M, various Ministries/ Departments continue to engage casual workers for attending work of regular nature against the Government’s policies. It is, therefore, reiterated that all Ministries/ Departments may ensure strict compliance of the guidelines on engagement of Casual Labourers. Negligence in the matter of implementing these guidelines should be viewed seriously and brought to the notice of the appropriate authorities for taking prompt and suitable action against the defaulters.

[O.M. No. 49019/1/95-Estt(C) dated 14.06.2016]

  1. Pay/wages:

    • Where the nature of work entrusted to the casual workers and regular employees is the same, the casual workers may be paid at the rate of 1/30th of the pay at the minimum of the relevant pay scale plus dearness allowance for work of 8 hours a day.
    • In cases where the work done by a casual worker is different from the work done by a regular employee, the casual worker may be paid only the minimum wages notified by the Ministry of Labour and Employment or the State Government/Union Territory Administration, whichever is higher, as per the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. However, if a Department is already paying daily wages at a higher rate, the practice could be continued with the approval of its Financial Adviser.

[O.M. No. 49014/2/86-Estt(C) dated 07.06.1988]
[O.M. No. 49014/1/2017-Estt(C) dated 04.09.19]

  1. Leave:
    • The casual workers may be given one paid weekly off after six days of continuous work.
    • The payment to the casual workers may be restricted only to the days on which they actually perform duty under the Government with a paid weekly off as mentioned above. In addition, they will also be paid for a National Holiday, if it falls on a working day for the casual workers.

[O.M. No. 49014/2/86-Estt(C) dated07.06.1988]

    • It has further been decided that casual workers working in offices having a five day week may be allowed one day paid weekly off provided they have worked for a minimum of 40 hours during the said week.

[O.M. No. 49019/1/95-Estt(C) dated 19.07.2016]

B). SCHEME OF 1993 (Grant of Temporary Status and Regularisation of Casual Labourer)

  1. Eligibility:
    • This scheme was applicable to casual labourers in employment of the Ministries/Departments of Government of India and their attached and subordinate offices, on the date of issue of these orders. But it shall not be applicable to casual workers in Railways, Department of Telecommunicalion and Department of Posts who are already governed by their own separate schemes.
    • Temporary status was to be conferred on all casual labourers who are in employment on the date of issue of this OM and who have rendered a continuous service of at least one year, which means that they must have been engaged for a period of at least 24O days (206 days in the case of offices observing 5 days week).
    • Such conferment of temporary status was to be without reference to the creation/ availability of regular (erstwhile) Group ‘D’ posts.
    • Conferment of temporary status on a casual labourer did not involve any change in his duties and responsibilities. The engagement was on daily rates of pay on need basis. He might be deployed anywhere within the recruitment unit/territorial circle on the basis of availability of work.
    • Such casual labourers who acquire temporary status will, however, not be brought on to the permanent establishment unless they are selected through regular selection process for (erstwhile) Group ‘D’ posts.
  1. Benefits:
    • Wages at daily rates with reference to the minimum of the pay scale for a corresponding regular (erstwhile) Group ‘D’ official including DA and HRA.
    • Benefits of increments at the same rate as applicable to a (erstwhile) Group ‘D’ employee would be taken into account for calculating pro-rata wages for every one year of service subject to performance of duty for at least 240 days (2O6 days in administrative offices observing 5 days week) in the year from the date of conferment of temporary status.
    • Leave entitlement would be on a pro-rata basis at the rate of one day for every 10 days of work. Casual or any other kind of leave, except maternity leave, will not be admissible. They will also be allowed to carry forward the leave at their credit on their regularisation. They will not be entitled to the benefits of encashment of leave on termination of service for any reason or on their quitting service.
    • Maternity leave to lady casual labourers as admissible to regular Group ‘D’ (erstwhile) employees was to be allowed.
    • 50% of the service rendered under temporary status would be counted for the purpose of retirement benefits after their regularisation.
    • After rendering three years’ continuous service after conferment of temporary status, the casual labourers would be treated on par with temporary (erstwhile) Group ‘D’ employees for the purpose of contribution to the General Provident Fund, and would also further be eligible for the grant of Festival Advance/Flood Advance on the same conditions as are applicable to temporary erstwhile Group ‘D’ employees, provided they furnish two sureties from permanent Government servants of their Department.
    • Until they are regularized, they would be entitled to Productivity Linked Bonus/Adhoc bonus only at the rates as applicable to casual labourers.
    • No benefits other than those specified above was to be admissible to casual labourers with temporary status.

[O.M. No. 51016/2/90-Estt(C) dated 10.09.1993]

    • The pay of casual workers with temporary status on their regularisation against Group ‘D’(erstwhile) (and now Group ‘C’) posts in identical grades will be fixed after taking into account the increments already earned by them in the Group ‘D’ (erstwhile) (and now Group ‘C’) pay scale which was taken into account for payment of wages while working as casual worker with temporary status. Such counting of the past increments earned on regularisation will be only for the purpose of pay fixation and will not entitle them to claim seniority or any other benefits like promotion etc. on the basis of such casual service.

[O.M. No. 49014/4/2007-Estt.(C) dated 09.05.2008]

  1. 3. Conditions for regularisation:

    • Two out of every three vacancies in Group ‘D’ (erstwhile) (and now Group ‘C’) cadres in respective offices where the casual labourers have been working was to be filled up as per extant recruitment rules and in accordance with the instructions issued by Department of Personnel and Training from amongst casual workers with temporary status. However, regular Group ‘D'(erstwhile) staff rendered surplus for any reason will have prior claim for absorption against existing/future vacancies. They would be allowed age relaxation equivalent to the period for which they have worked continuously as casual labourer.
    • Following the acceptance of the recommendation of the 6th CPC, all Group D posts had been upgraded to Group C posts. Recruitment to erstwhile Group ‘D’ posts placed in Group ‘C’, PB-1, Grade Pay ’18OO/- (non technical as MT Staff) is now made only through Staff Selection Commission and minimum educational qualification for appointment is Matriculation or ITI pass. Regularisation of CL-TS therefore, could not be done by the Ministries/ Departments on their own and requires relaxation of para 8 of the Appendix to the O.M. dated 10.09.1993 by D/o Personnel & Training with the concurrence of Department of Expenditure.

[O.M. No. 49014/3/2014-Estt(C) dated 16.10.2014]

  1. Clarifications regarding the Scheme of 1993:

Ques.1. Whether the casual employees who were not initially engaged through employment exchange are entitled to the benefit of temporary status?

Ans.1. Since it is mandatory to engage casual employees through employment exchange, the appointment of casual employees without employment exchange is irregular. Hence such casual employees cannot be bestowed with temporary status.

Ques.2. Whether temporary status could be granted to the part-time casual employees? Ans. 2. No.
Ques.3. Will the casual labourers initially engaged after crossing the upper age limit prescribed for recruitment to Group ‘D’ posts be eligible for grant of temporary status?

Ans.3. No age limit has been prescribed for grant of temporary status. However, for the purpose of subsequent regularisation, the conditions regarding age and educational qualifications prescribed in the relevant recruitment rules will apply.

Ques.4. WiIl the wages of casual employees be debited to the salaries sub-head of the establishment or to the contingent sub-head?

Ans.4. Since the casual employees on grant of temporary status would be entitled for wages on actual basis, their wages will have to be debited to the sub-head ‘wages’.

Ques.5. For the purpose of assessing leave entitlement how should qualifying period be reckoned?

Ans.5. Qualifying period should be reckoned with reference to actual number of days duty performed ignoring days of weekly off, Ieave and absence etc. All days of duty will be counted irrespective of intervening spells of absence, which do not constitute break in service.

Ques.6. Frequency at which leave will be credited?

Ans.6. Twice a year. On the 1st of January and 1st of July credit will be afforded for the preceding half year or fraction thereof, on a pro-rata basis at the rate of one day for every 10 days of work.

    • The Hon’ble Supreme Court while hearing SLP (Civil) No.2224/2000 in the case of Union of India & Anr. Vs. Mohan Pal etc. had directed that:- “The Scheme of 10-09- 93 is not an ongoing Scheme and the temporary status can be conferred on the casual labourers under that Scheme only on fulfilling the conditions incorporated in clause 4 of the scheme, namely, they should have been casual labourers in employment on the date of the commencement of the scheme and they should have rendered continuous service of at least one year i.e. at least 24O days in a year or 206 days (in case of offices having 5 days a week). We also make it clear that those who have already been given ‘temporary’ status on the assumption that it is an ongoing Scheme shall not be stripped of the ‘temporary’ status pursuant to our decision”. The Supreme Court in the above case had also considered the question as to whether the services of casual labourers who had been given ‘temporary’ status could be dispensed with as per clause 7 as if they were regular casual labourers and observed that- “The casual labourers who acquire ‘temporary’ status cannot be removed merely on the whims and fancies of the employer. If there is sufficient work and other casual labourers are still to be employed by the employer for carrying out the work, the casual labourers who have acquired ‘temporary’ status shall not be removed from service as per clause 7 of the Scheme. If there is serious misconduct or violation of service rules, it would be open to the employer to dispense with the services of a casual labourer who had acquired the ‘temporary’ status.

[O.M. No. 40011/6/2002-Estt(C ) dated 06.06.2002]

C. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO THE CASUAL LABOURERS WITH TEMPORARY STATUS (CL-TS) IN CONTINUATION OF SCHEME OF 1993.

  1. Allowance/Leave Benefits:

    • The benefit of Transport allowance was extended to casual labourers having temporary status vide DoPT’s OM. No. 49014/3/97-Estt(C) dated 01.04.1998. Physically handicapped casual labourers having temporary status were entitled to transport allowance at double the normal rate subject to terms and conditions in M/o Finance, D/o Expenditure’s O.M. No. 19029/1/78-E-IV dated 31.08.78.

[O.M. No.49014/2/2008-Estt(C) dated 04.08.2008]

    • It was clarified that the limit on accumulation of total number of days of leave will be 300 days as in the case of regular Government employees. In other words CL-TS can accumulate leave upto a maximum of 300 days only.

[O.M. No.49014/3/2007-Estt(C) dated 18.10.2007]

    • Paternity leave as admissible to regular Government employees was also extended to the casual labourers with temporary status and who has less than two surviving children may be granted Paternity leave for a period of 15 days during the confinement of his wife. During the period of such leave he shall be paid wages drawn immediately before proceeding on leave.
    • Paternity leave was not to be debited against the leave account and could be combined with pro-rata earned leave admissible to casual employees under “Casual Labourers (Grant of Temporary Status and regularisation) Scheme of Government of India, 1993.”

[O.M. No.49014/1/98-Estt(C) dated 01.04.1998]

    • Casual employees who have been granted temporary status were entitled to Transport Allowance for computation of their daily rates of wages.

[O.M. No.49014/3/97-Estt(C) dated 01.04.1998]

  1. GPF and pensionary benefits:

    • The casual labourers who had been granted temporary status under the scheme, and had completed 3 years of continuous service after that, were entitled to contribute to the General Provident Fund. It was also decided that 50% of the service rendered under temporary status would be counted for the purpose of retirement benefits in respect of those casual labourers who have been regularised in terms of para 8 of the OM dated 10.09.1993. This was applicable to all casual labourers covered under the scheme of 1993 whether they were regularised before or after 31.12.2003.
    • Regarding the modalities of transfer of the amount lying in the NPS account to the GPF account of these casual labourers, Controller General of Accounts (CGA) have furnished following clarifications:

(i) Adjustment of Employees contribution in Accounts:- Amount may be credited to individual’s GPF Account and the account may be recasted permitting up-to-date interest (Authority FR-16 & Rule 11 of GPP Rules)

(ii) Adjustment of Government contribution under NPS in Accounts:- To be accounted for as (-) Dr. to object heads 70-Deduct Recoveries under major Head 2071- Pension and other Retirement benefit-Minor Head 911- Deduct Recoveries of overpayment (GAR 35 and para 3.10 of List of Major and Minor Heads of Accounts)

(iii) Adjustment of increased value of subscription on account of appreciation of investment:- may be accounted for by crediting the amount to Govt. account under M.H.0071- Contribution towards Pensions and other Retirement Benefits 800- Other Receipts (Note under the above Head in LMMHA).

    • If the benefits under old pension scheme are to be allowed to a retired employee, who had contributed towards NPS at any stage, the entire NPS accumulations i.e. employee’s contribution + Government’s matching contribution + appreciation thereon should be remitted into the accredited bank of the PAO concerned.

[O.M. No.49014/2/2014-Estt(C)-Pt-I dated 11.10.2018]
[O.M.No.49014/2/2014-Estt(C) dated 28.07.2016]
[O.M. No.49014/2/2014-Estt(C) dated 26.02.2016]

  1. Pay/Wages as per 7th CPC:

On the implementation of the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission as per Government of India Notification dated 25th July, 2016, the Casual Labourers with Temporary Status will continue to receive their wages with effect from 01.01.2016 as per provisions of the Casual Labours (Grant of Temporary Status & Regularisation) Scheme, worked out on the basis of the pay scales of Group ‘C’ as per Level 1 of the Pay Matrix recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission and approved by the Government provided they are matriculate. In case of the similarly placed non- matriculate Casual Labourers with Temporary Status the above benefit of wages w.e.f. 01.01.2016 may he extended only after imparting the requisite training, by the respective administrative Ministries/ Departments on the lines indicated in the MOF O.M. No. 1/1/2008-IC dated 24.12.2008.

[O.M. No.49011/2/2017-Estt(C) dated 19.02.2018]

D. REGULARISATION OF IRREGULARLY APPOINTED WORKERS (in light of Uma Devi Judgement)

  1. A Constitution bench of the Supreme Court in civil appeal No. 3595- 3612/1999 etc. in the case of Secretary State of Karnataka and Ors. Vs. Uma Devi and others has reiterated that any public appointment has to be in terms of the Constitutional scheme. However, the Supreme Court in para 44 of the aforesaid judgement dated 10.4.2006 had directed that the Union of lndia, the State Governments and their instrumentalities should take steps to regularize as a one time measure the services of such irregularly appointed, who are duly qualified persons in terms of the statutory recruitment rules for the post and who have worked for ten years or more in duly sanctioned posts but not under cover of orders of courts or tribunals. The Apex Court has clarified that if such appointment itself is in infraction of the rules or if it is in violation of the provisions of the Constitution, illegality cannot be regularized.

[O.M. No. 49019/1/2006-Estt(C) dated 11.12.2006]

  1. The important points as quoted from the Uma Devi Judgement are reproduced below:
    • Equality of opportunity is the hallmark for public employment and it is in terms of the Constitutional Scheme only (Para 1).
    • The filling of vacancies cannot be done in a haphazard manner or based on patronage or other considerations (Para 2).
    • The State is meant to be a model employer and can make appointments only in accordance with the rules framed under Article 309 of the Constitution (Para 5).
    • Regularization is not and cannot be a mode of recruitment by any State within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution of India, or any body or authority governed by a statutory Act or the Rules framed thereunder. Regularization, furthermore, cannot give permanence to an employee whose services are ad hoc in nature. The fact that some persons had been working for a long time would not mean that they had acquired a right for regularisation (Para 27).
    • Any regular appointment made on a post under the State or Union without issuing advertisement inviting applications from eligible candidates and without holding a proper selection where all eligible candidates get a fair chance to compete would violate the guarantee enshrined under Article 16 of the Constitution (Para 30).
    • If it is a contractual appointment, the appointment comes to an end at the end of the contract (Para 34).
    • Regularization, if any already made, but not sub judice, need not be reopened based on this judgment, but there should be no further by-passing of the Constitutional requirement and regularizing or making permanent, those not duly appointed as per the Constitutional scheme (Para 44).
    • In cases relating to service in the commercial taxes department, the High Court has directed that those engaged on daily wages, be paid wages equal to the salary and allowances that are being paid to the regular employees of their cadre in government service, with effect from the dates from which they were respectively appointed. The objection taken was to the direction for payment from the dates of engagement. We find that the High Court had clearly gone wrong in directing that these employees be paid salary equal to the salary and allowances that are being paid to the regular employees of their cadre in government service, with effect from the dates from which they were respectively engaged or appointed. It was not open to the High Court to impose such an obligation on the State when the very question before the High Court in the case was whether these employees were entitled to have equal pay for equal work so called and were entitled to any other benefit. They had also been engaged in the teeth of directions not to do so. We are, therefore, of the view that, at best, the Division Bench of the High Court should have directed that wages equal to the salary that are being paid to regular employees be paid to these daily wage employees with effect from the date of its judgment. Hence, that part of the direction of the Division Bench is modified and it is directed that these daily wage earners be paid wages equal to the salary at the lowest grade of employees of their cadre in the Commercial Taxes Department in government service, from the date of the judgment of the Division Bench of the High Court. Since, they are only daily wage earners, there would be no question of other allowances being paid to them (Para 46).
  1. Additionally, it is also stated that vide the judgement of State of Karnataka Vs. M.L. Kesari dated 03.08.2010, the Hon’ble Supreme Court had clarified some aspects of the Uma Devi judgement which are pertinent for proper understanding of the said judgement dated 10.04.2006. These aspects brought out in the M.L. Kesari judgement are reproduced as under:
    • The employee concerned should have worked for 10 years or more in duly sanctioned post without the benefit or protection of the interim order of any court or tribunal. In other words, the State Government or its instrumentality should have employed the employee and continued him in service voluntarily and continuously for more than ten years.
    • The appointment of such employee should not be illegal, even if irregular. Where the appointments are not made or continued against sanctioned posts or where the persons appointed do not possess the proscribed minimum qualifications, the appointments will be considered to be illegal. But where the person employed possessed the prescribed qualifications and was working against sanctioned posts, but had been selected without undergoing the process of open competitive selection, such appointments are considered to be irregular.
    • The employees who were entitled to be considered in terms of Para 53 of the decision in Umadevi, will not lose their right to be considered for regularization, merely because the one-time exercise was completed without considering their cases, or because the six month period mentioned in para 44 of Umadevi has expired. The one-time exercise should consider all daily-wage/adhoc/those employees who had put in 10 years of continuous service as on 10.4.2006 without availing the protection of any interim orders of courts or tribunals. If any employer had held the one-time exercise in terms of para 44 of Umadevi, but did not consider the cases of some employees who were entitled to the benefit of para 44 of Umadevi, the employer concerned should consider their cases also, as a continuation of the one-time exercise. The one time exercise will be concluded only when all the employees who are entitled to be considered in terms of Para 44 of Umadevi, are so considered.
  1. It is also emphasized that all concerned administrative authorities should take steps to effectively defend the Court cases on the basis of principles in the Uma Devi judgement and instructions of DOPT within the limitation period without giving any scope to the Courts to decide the cases against the Government on grounds of delay in filing its reply/appeal. Any laxity in the matter to comply with these instructions leading to adverse orders of the Courts shall be viewed seriously inviting disciplinary action in the matter.

[O.M. No. 49014/7/2020-Estt.(C) dated 07.10.2020]

Note 1: Both the scheme of 1993 pertaining to Casual Labourers and Regularisation of irregularly appointed persons for 10 years or more in the light of Uma Devi judgement were one time measure only and no other scheme has been issued by DoPT.

Note 2: List of the OMs mentioned in this document is annexed. In case any reference to the relevant OM is required, the same may be accessed from the Archive Section of DoPT’s website.

*********

ANNEXURE

List of OMs mentioned in this Document

  1. [O.M. No. 49014/2/86-Estt(C) dated 07.06.1988]
  2. [O.M. No. 51016/2/90-Estt(C) dated 10.09.1993]
  3. [O.M. No. 49014/2/93-Estt(C) dated 12.07.1994]
  4. [O.M. No.49014/1/98-Estt(C) dated 01.04.1998]
  5. [O.M. No.49014/3/97-Estt(C) dated 01.04.1998]
  6. [O.M. No. 40011/6/2002-Estt(C ) dated 06.06.2002]
  7. [O.M. No. 49019/1/2006-Estt(C) dated 11.12.2006]
  8. [O.M. No.49014/3/2007-Estt(C) dated 18.10.2007]
  9. [O.M. No. 49014/4/2007-Estt.(C) dated 09.05.2008]
  10. [O.M. No.49014/2/2008-Estt(C) dated 04.08.2008]
  11. [O.M. No. 49014/3/2014-Estt(C) dated 16.10.2014]
  12. [O.M. No.49014/2/2014-Estt(C) dated 26.02.2016]
  13. [O.M. No. 49019/1/95-Estt(C) dated 14.06.2016]
  14. [O.M. No. 49019/1/95-Estt(C) dated 19.07.2016]
  15. [O.M.No.49014/2/2014-Estt(C) dated 28.07.2016]
  16. [O.M. No.49011/2/2017-Estt(C) dated 19.02.2018]
  17. [O.M. No.49014/2/2014-Estt(C)-Pt-I dated 11.10.2018]
  18. [O.M. No. 49014/1/2017-Estt(C) dated 04.09.2019]
  19. [O.M. No. 49014/5/2019-Estt.(C) dated 13.02.2020]
  20. [O.M. No. 49014/7/2020-Estt.(C) dated 07.10.2020]

 

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