Relief for pre-2019 labour officers

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet on Friday approved amendments to the Odisha Labour Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2019, providing relief to Assistant Labour Officers (ALOs) and Rural Labour Inspectors (RLIs) appointed before the rules came into force.

Under the revised rules, these officers will be exempted from the departmental examination requirement. The move will help them regularise their services in the Odisha Labour Service and make them eligible for promotions to higher posts.

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Labour rules updated to reflect new criminal laws

As part of the amendment, the state has also updated references to central criminal laws in the departmental examination syllabus.

Under Appendix Part-I (Law), Paper-I: General Law:

• The Indian Penal Code, 1860 has been replaced with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
• The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 has been replaced with the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
• The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 has been replaced with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

The update is aimed at aligning Odisha’s labour service framework with recently enacted national laws.

New ESI ministerial service cadre approved

The Cabinet has also approved framing of the Odisha Employees’ State Insurance Scheme Ministerial Service (Methods of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2026.

The new cadre rules have been introduced to regulate recruitment, promotions and service conditions of ministerial staff working in ESI hospitals and dispensaries across the state.

Officials said the move will strengthen administrative efficiency and improve service delivery in the health insurance system.

Recruitment process for ESI medical staff streamlined

In another key decision, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Odisha Employees’ State Insurance Medical Service (Methods of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2014.

The changes are aimed at streamlining the recruitment process, ensuring fairness in evaluation and bringing the rules in line with current examination practices and administrative needs.

The Labour and Employees’ State Insurance Department said the reforms are expected to improve governance, boost employee welfare and enhance the functioning of labour and ESI services in Odisha.