Tewari questions fair hiring process in Chandigarh
Manish Tewari raises concerns over transparency in Chandigarh recruitment in Lok Sabha
Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament from Chandigarh, has raised serious concerns about transparency and fairness in recruitment processes in the Union Territory. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, he questioned the government about the system used to provide jobs to local residents and asked for clear accountability mechanisms.
Tewari highlighted the issue of livelihood security and stressed the importance of ensuring that job opportunities are distributed in a fair and transparent manner. He asked the Ministry of Labour and Employment to provide detailed information about people registered with the Employment Exchange in Chandigarh over the last five years, as well as the current year.
In response, the Union government shared official data on registrations. According to the reply, a total of 8,703 people registered with the Employment Exchange in Chandigarh over the past five years. In the current year, up to March 16, 2026, around 184 people have registered.
The government also provided a year-wise breakdown of registrations. In 2021, 1,870 people registered, followed by 1,443 in 2022. The number increased to 2,268 in 2023, then dropped to 1,679 in 2024, and further to 1,443 in 2025. These figures give a general picture of how many job seekers are using the Employment Exchange system in the city.
Concerns over recruitment system
While the government shared registration data, Tewari expressed dissatisfaction with the overall response. He said that the information provided did not fully address his main concerns about how jobs are actually given to registered candidates.
The government clarified that candidates registered with the Employment Exchange are sponsored for jobs based on eligibility, seniority, and the requirements of employers. These opportunities are available in both government departments of the UT administration and the private sector.
However, an important point highlighted in the response was that no candidates are sponsored for outsourced jobs through the Employment Exchange. This raised further questions for Tewari, who wanted to understand how recruitment works in cases where jobs are outsourced.
Outsourced jobs are common in many government departments. These positions are usually filled through private agencies rather than direct recruitment by the government. Tewari questioned whether there is any system to ensure that local candidates registered with the Employment Exchange get a fair chance in such hiring processes.
He specifically asked whether there is any rule requiring that 20 to 25 percent of outsourced recruitment should be done through the Employment Exchange. In response, the government stated clearly that no such rule or instruction exists.
This reply has brought attention to a possible gap in the recruitment system. Without such rules, there may be limited oversight on how outsourced jobs are filled and whether local candidates are given priority.
Demand for accountability
Tewari also raised concerns about the lack of a proper monitoring system. He asked the government what mechanisms are in place to ensure that outsourcing agencies follow fair recruitment practices and do not ignore eligible candidates.
According to him, transparency is not just about sharing numbers but also about ensuring that processes are clear and accountable. He pointed out that while the number of registrations has been provided, there is little information about how many of these candidates actually get jobs.
He said that the response from Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, did not fully address these concerns. While she answered the questions related to data, the broader issue of ensuring fair recruitment remained unclear.
Tewari emphasised that local residents should have fair access to job opportunities in Chandigarh. He believes that the absence of clear rules and monitoring systems could lead to unfair practices and reduce opportunities for deserving candidates.
The issue also highlights a larger concern about employment systems in urban areas. With increasing competition for jobs, it becomes important to have systems that are transparent and inclusive. Employment Exchanges are meant to help job seekers connect with employers, but their effectiveness depends on how well they are integrated into recruitment processes.
Experts say that better coordination between government departments and private employers could improve the system. Introducing clear guidelines for outsourced recruitment and ensuring proper monitoring could help make the process more fair and transparent.
In conclusion, the questions raised by Manish Tewari have brought attention to important gaps in the recruitment system in Chandigarh. While the government has provided data on job registrations, concerns about transparency, fairness, and accountability remain.
The discussion in the Lok Sabha shows the need for stronger policies and better monitoring to ensure that employment opportunities are distributed fairly. As the issue continues to be debated, there may be further efforts to improve the system and address the concerns raised by the MP.
Ensuring fair access to jobs is essential for maintaining trust in public institutions. Clear rules, proper monitoring, and transparency can help create a system that benefits both job seekers and employers in the long run.
Related News
