Bengaluru: Bangalore University plans outsourcing of contract staff management

Bangalore University (BU) is exploring the possibility of outsourcing the management of its 381 contract employees to a private agency, sparking concerns among its workforce. These employees, who have served at the Jnana Bharathi campus for over a decade, continue to receive low wages and lack provident fund benefits, despite repeated protests demanding job regularisation.

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Previously, BU managed over 700 colleges, but following its trifurcation, the number has dropped to 195. The Higher Education Department had earlier questioned the necessity of retaining such a large number of contract staff and even directed their termination. However, widespread protests led to the reversal of this order, along with a ₹4,000 salary hike for the employees.

In a recent development, the university has invited tenders from private HR service providers to oversee contract worker management. The administration believes this move will help cut salary expenses by shifting financial responsibilities to an external agency, reducing direct involvement in employee payments.

The decision has triggered opposition from employee representatives, who argue that outsourcing would worsen job insecurity. They stress that many workers have remained loyal to the university despite minimal wages, and instead of being regularised, they now face uncertainty. As the final decision awaits approval in the next syndicate meeting, contract employees remain apprehensive about their future.