Patna: A recent Bihar government order revising office timings for women employees has led to uncertainty across state departments over its applicability to contractual and outsourced workers.
The order, issued by the General Administration Department on April 17 and signed by Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, fixed office hours for regular women employees from 9.30 am to 5 pm. However, the notification did not mention women employed through contractual arrangements or outsourcing agencies.
The omission has resulted in differing interpretations at both the state headquarters and district levels.
Departments adopting different approaches
In several government offices, all women employees are reportedly being relieved by 5 pm irrespective of their employment status. In others, contractual and outsourced women staff continue to work beyond the revised timings.
The lack of uniformity has created confusion among employees and administrators alike.
Ayush committee issues separate clarification
The State Ayush Society, which functions under the health department, has separately clarified the matter through its own directive.
According to the order, the one-hour relaxation in working hours will apply only to regular women employees. Contractual and outsourced women workers, it stated, will not be entitled to leave office at 5 pm.
The clarification has intensified dissatisfaction among non-regular employees.
Contractual staff allege discrimination
Several contractual and outsourced women workers have questioned the distinction, arguing that they perform duties similar to those of permanent employees.
Some employees described the arrangement as discriminatory and said a uniform policy should apply to all women staff working in government offices.
They also pointed out that earlier arrangements did not differentiate between categories of employees.
Reference to earlier directive
In 2024, the Bihar Legislative Secretariat had reportedly written to departmental secretaries stating that all women employees — including regular, contractual and outsourced staff — should be allowed to leave office by 5 pm.
Employees say the latest order appears to have altered that position without issuing clear operational guidelines.
Demand for clearer government guidelines
Administrative officials have also acknowledged the need for a clearer policy framework to ensure uniform implementation across departments.
Officials indicated that unless the state government issues a detailed clarification soon, dissatisfaction among contractual and outsourced women employees could intensify in the coming days.
