Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Punjab Orders Action Against Striking Staff Ahead Of 2027 Polls
Punjab government workers and pensioners went on strike.
They want unpaid dearness allowance money and the Old Pension Scheme.
The strike affected government offices and some hospital outpatient services.
The government asked departments to identify workers who stayed away from work.
It also directed departments to start action against them.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said he would talk with employee representatives only after the strike ended.
The Shiromani Akali Dal supported the workers and criticized the government.
The dispute could become an important political issue before Punjab's 2027 elections.
The Punjab government ordered departments to list employees absent during the statewide Maha Hartal and begin disciplinary action.
Employees and pensioners struck over pending dearness allowance dues and implementation of the Old Pension Scheme.
The strike disrupted government services and affected outpatient department services at several hospitals.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann refused to meet a 16-member delegation while the strike continued.
The confrontation involves more than 150 employee organizations and an estimated 7.5 lakh employees and pensioners ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
- Who
- The Punjab government, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, government employees and pensioners, employee organizations, and the Shiromani Akali Dal.
- What
- A statewide employee strike escalated after the government ordered action against workers absent during the protest.
- When
- The escalation occurred today, ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
- Where
- Across Punjab, including government departments, several hospitals, and a meeting site at PAP in Jalandhar.
- Why
- Employees and pensioners are demanding pending dearness allowance dues and implementation of the Old Pension Scheme.
Government Position
Employees And Opposition Position
Strike and negotiations
Government Position
Bhagwant Mann refused to meet the employee delegation while the strike continued and said talks could begin only after the agitation ended.
Employees And Opposition Position
Employees continued their statewide strike to press for dearness allowance dues and the Old Pension Scheme, while a 16-member delegation sought to meet the chief minister.
Action against absentees
Government Position
The Punjab government directed departments to identify employees absent during the Maha Hartal and initiate action against them.
Employees And Opposition Position
Bikram Singh Majithia accused the chief minister of taking revenge against employees and warned that the Shiromani Akali Dal would oppose high-handedness.
Political significance
Government Position
The government faces disruption to public services while insisting that negotiations should follow the end of the strike.
Employees And Opposition Position
The Shiromani Akali Dal backed the agitation and portrayed the dispute as a broader challenge for the Aam Aadmi Party government before the 2027 elections.
- Strike
- Statewide Maha Hartal by government employees and pensioners
- Main demands
- Release of pending dearness allowance dues and implementation of the Old Pension Scheme
- Government response
- Departments were told to prepare absence lists and initiate action against striking employees
- Negotiation condition
- Bhagwant Mann said talks would take place only after the strike was called off
- Employee organizations
- More than 150 organizations under the Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch backed the strike
- Estimated scale
- Around 7.5 lakh employees and pensioners were said to be involved
- Political context
- The standoff is unfolding ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections