Question : Outsourcing of Jobs in Government Departments

(a) whether it is a fact that due to administrative exigency, efficiency and unavoidable circumstances, outsourcing of work in the Government departments through contract is resorted to and no centralized data of employment in Government departments is maintained in this regard;
(b) if so, the reasons for not maintaining the data in the era of digitalisation and the date-wise/competent authority-wise details of guidelines with justification for adoption of outsourcing policy in the Government;
(c) the Department-wise details of jobs provided on contract/outsourcing and the number of vacancies and backlog vacancies that were lying vacant during the last three years;
(d) whether the Government is intending to issue any guidelines to curb middlemen in contract/outsourcing and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to issue guidelines to provide permanent jobs to the people instead of keeping them on contract/outsourcing for a long time and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (e): A Ministry or Department may procure certain non-consulting services in the interest of economy and efficiency and prescribe detailed instructions and procedures for this purpose without, however, contravening the basic guidelines provided in rule 199 to 206 of “General Financial Rules 2017” (GFR 2017). As each Ministry/Department is competent to procure services at their level to meet seasonal or short-term requirements, the centralised data is not maintained in this regard.

There are detailed procedures laid down for procurement of such non-consulting services including e-procurement in Chapter 6 of the GFR 2017 and the “Manual for Procurement of Consultancy & Other Services, 2017”. Ministries are competent to decide the mode depending on the nature of work, nature of competency required etc. Any deviation or violation can be dealt by the Ministry appropriately. The wages for the persons engaged on contract/outsourcing cannot be less than the minimum wage fixed/notified by the concerned State Government.

The Government posts are regularly filled up in accordance with the recruitment rules. Each Ministry/Department is responsible for appointment of regular employees against vacant posts after completing all procedural formalities. The centralised data of vacancies and backlog vacancies is not maintained.

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