Panaji, 31 August : In a major decision concerning contractual employees in the education sector, the Goa Cabinet has decided to regularise the services of workers who have completed 10 years or more in service, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant announced.

The decision is expected to benefit a large number of contractual employees who have been serving in the education sector for several years without permanent status.

According to the Chief Minister, employees working under centrally sponsored schemes will also be considered under the proposed regularisation policy.

Sawant said the government will prepare a regularisation scheme by October, following which offer letters are expected to be issued from the same month.

The Chief Minister also assured that contractual employees who have not yet completed 10 years of service will not be left out. Such employees, he said, will be provided a better pay scale, even if they are not immediately eligible for regularisation.

The announcement is significant in the backdrop of growing demands from contractual teachers and other education-sector employees for job security, improved salaries and permanent service benefits.

The decision is likely to bring relief to employees who have been working on contractual terms for years while performing regular duties in the education system.