The Punjab Cabinet on Saturday decided to offer government contracts to more than 65,000 outsourced employees by giving the nod to bring two bills, aimed at ending the practice of hiring employees through contractual and outsourcing systems in government departments.The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting held in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann.Addressing the media after the meeting, Mann said two bills — the Punjab State Outsourced Personnel Bill, 2026 and the Punjab State Contractual Personnel Bill, 2026 — will be brought in the state assembly and an ordinance in this regard was being sent to Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria.Employees engaged in physical risk activities should have completed three years of service to avail the benefits. Meanwhile, the benefit will be available to employees who have completed five years of service. Employees will get their salary benefits directly into their bank accounts.A total of 65,048 outsourced workers will be regularised in 51 departments. Services of no employee will be terminated without a formal notice and a chance to offer his/her version.Staff will be eligible to avail all the service benefits as per the government rules. This includes roughly 8,000 employees engaged in jobs like firemen and sewerage workers.