Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant today announced that all work-charge employees appointed on a temporary basis will now receive benefits under the 6th Pay Commission structure.
The move aims to bring pay parity and financial stability to thousands of temporary workers engaged in government projects across departments.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Dr. Sawant said the decision reflects the government’s continued effort to regularise and rationalise employee benefits in line with national pay standards.
The Chief Minister further announced that the retirement age of Chief Engineers in key departments such as Public Works, Drinking Water, Electricity, and Water Resources has been extended to 62 years, but only in cases where no eligible officer is available for promotion.
“This is an administrative measure to ensure continuity in leadership and project execution,” he said.
In another major welfare initiative, the Cabinet approved a one-time Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) scheme for around 7,000 contract employees who have been working since 2017. Dr. Sawant said the decision will benefit contractual staff who were previously outside the EPF ambit and will entail an estimated financial burden of ₹2.5–3 crore on the state exchequer.
“These are pro-employee decisions aimed at strengthening job security, social protection, and administrative efficiency,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the government remains committed to safeguarding the interests of all categories of workers in the state.
