LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has held that under the government policy, 2021, the daily wagers/work charge employees perform the duty of permanent nature become permanent workmen after completing nine or more months of their service in government departments or autonomous bodies.
The services of the daily wagers whose right or entitlement become of permanent workmen shall be governed by the Standing Orders 1968, the court added.
The court passed this order in scores of identical petitions of government employees, Muhammad Bilal Raza and others, working as daily wagers in different government departments.
The court observed that perusal of the contents of the Policy, 2021, clearly demonstrates that the petitioners have attained the status of permanent workmen.
The court, therefore, set aside impugned orders denying the petitioners the status of permanent workman/workmen.
The court also observed that the petitioners were always entitled for the benefits and lawful consequences arising out of the Policy, 2021 as the status of permanent workman/workmen.
The court observed that there is no substance in the submission that the Policy, 2021 is not applicable viz. the daily wagers staff of the authorities, being autonomous bodies.
The court observed that all the departments are to reconsider such cases and passed the orders strictly in accordance with the Policy, 2021.
The court said that in the instant case, the petitioners have served for more than nine months while performing the duties and jobs of permanent nature, therefore, there is no lawful justification resting with respondents to deny the lawful rights of the petitioners.
The court said that the respondents have failed to place on record an iota of material or evidence, which may distinguish the cases of the petitioners viz. the daily wagers/contingent paid staff/work charged employees who were hired and retained as permanent workmen, but the petitioners rights have been denied with impunity.
The court also observed that the position and the ground raised by the respondents that since most of the petitioners have already been laid off by virtue of non-extension of their appointments, therefore, the Policy, 2021 is not attracted in their cases are devoid of any lawful basis.
This court, however, cannot ascertain that which of the petitioners have rendered services, attracting payment of remuneration or vice versa, therefore, this aspect will be decided by the respective authorities.
Conversely, if it is concluded on the basis of evidence that no services have been rendered during the period in question, the authorities concerned may proceed to decide the matter on the settled principle of law, the court added.
The court, therefore, directed the authoritiesconcerned to decide the disbursement of outstanding remuneration/salaries of the petitioners after affording a meaningful opportunity of hearing to the petitioners.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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