Govt committed to phased regularization of daily wagers: Omar

Jammu, Apr 1: Reaffirming its commitment to regularisation of daily wagers in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday informed the Legislative Assembly that the process will be initiated in a phased manner during the current financial year.
He made these remarks while responding to a bill moved by MLA Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami which read, “A Bill to provide for regularisation of services of casual and other workers working in various Departments of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and for the matters incidental thereto (L.A. Private Members’ Bill No. 45 of 2025)”.
The Chief Minister said that he does not oppose the intent behind the proposed legislation on regularisation, but expressed reservations regarding the timing of its introduction.
“Government has already made a clear commitment that the process of regularisation will be initiated in a phased manner during the current financial year and we stand by that commitment,” he said.
He emphasized that the opposition was not to the sentiment of the Bill, but to its introduction at this stage, particularly when the Government has recently made an announcement on the matter. “Not even a month has passed since the commitment was made. I think that raising the issue on the very first day of the financial year appears meaningless,” he said.
Chief Minister reiterated that the Government fully acknowledges the concerns of employees who have devoted the prime years of their lives in service and affirmed that their regularisation remains a priority.
Calling for a constructive approach, he said that the matter is currently under examination by a Committee and urged that its report be awaited. He appealed to legislator Tarigami to withdraw the Private Member’s Bill in view of the Government’s assurance and ongoing process.
Later, satisfied by the assurances from the Chief Minister, legislator Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami withdrew his bill.
Another bill on the same subject moved by MLA Waheed ur Rehman Para, that reads “A Bill to provide for regularization of adhoc, Daily wagers, need based and other Temporary workers (L.A. Private Members’ Bill No. 8 of 2025),” was rejected through voice vote.