Jaipur: In a major relief for thousands of contract and placement agency workers, the Rajasthan government has made it mandatory for employers to deduct and deposit Provident Fund (PF) and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) contributions on time.
The announcement was made during Question Hour in the Rajasthan Assembly by Minister of State for Autonomous Governance Jhabar Mal Kharra, who outlined new safeguards to protect the rights of contractual employees working in urban local bodies.
Payment to Contractors Now Linked to PF, ESI Deposit
The move comes after repeated complaints that placement agencies were deducting PF and ESI amounts from employees’ salaries but failing to deposit the funds with the concerned authorities.
To prevent such irregularities, the government has introduced a stricter payment mechanism:
The first month’s bill may be cleared without deposit proof.
From the second month onward, payment will only be released after the contractor submits the official government challan confirming PF and ESI deposit for the previous month.
If proof of deposit is not provided, payment for the next month will be withheld.
This step aims to enhance transparency and ensure that contractual workers receive full statutory benefits.
Action Against Corruption in Municipal Bodies
The minister also informed the Assembly that strict action has been taken in response to corruption allegations in the Chomu Municipal Council. Two permanent employees have been sent back to their parent departments with disciplinary action initiated, while the services of one contractual employee have been terminated with immediate effect.
2026 Recruitment Calendar Released
In another key announcement, the state government has released the Recruitment Calendar for 2026, offering hope to unemployed youth and contractual workers seeking regular employment. The recruitment process for sanitation workers is scheduled to begin in October 2026.
