The government of Odisha has introduced new guidelines to address the previous practice of extensively re-engaging retired employees. The new rules, issued recently, restrict the re-hiring of retirees to just one per cent of the sanctioned staff for senior-level positions in each department. It also imposes stricter selection criteria.
During the period 2010 to 2014, there was a surge in rehiring retired staff due to severe manpower shortages caused by delays in recruitment. This temporary solution was used to manage the increased workload on existing employees. However, it was observed that many departments began re-engaging retirees regularly, often without sufficient justification, turning what was intended to be an exceptional measure into a common practice.
With the financial situation improving, the government has decided to prioritise regular hiring. The updated guidelines mandate that vacancies for routine tasks should be filled through direct or promotional recruitment rather than re-engaging retired employees.
The selection process for re-engagement will now be managed through open advertisements and a selection committee chaired by the chief secretary. The committee must justify the need for re-engagement, and any such proposals must be approved by the chief minister. Re-engagements cannot proceed without this approval, and no approvals will be granted retroactively.
This move aims to ensure that re-engagement of retired employees is handled more judiciously and aligns with the broader goal of regular employment practices.
