2 days ago
Punjab BJP accuses AAP government over employee dues protest
Punjab government employees went on strike to ask for benefits they say they are owed.
More than three lakh employees took casual leave on August 27.
They wanted 18 per cent of pending dearness allowance to be paid.
They also asked for the Old Pension Scheme and permanent jobs for contractual workers.
BJP leaders said the AAP-led government had treated employees unfairly.
The government told officials to send notices to workers who were absent without permission.
BJP leaders criticised those notices as an attempt to stop future strikes.
The dispute could influence how employees view the state government.
Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon accused the AAP government of withholding employees’ pending dearness allowance.
More than three lakh employees took mass casual leave on August 27 in a statewide strike.
Employees demanded payment of 18 per cent pending DA, implementation of the Old Pension Scheme and regularisation of contractual workers.
The Punjab government directed officials to issue show-cause notices to employees deemed unauthorisedly absent during the strike.
BJP leaders said the notices were intended to discourage collective action and criticised the chief minister for missing scheduled employee meetings.
- Who
- More than three lakh Punjab government employees, the AAP-led Punjab government and BJP leaders including Kewal Singh Dhillon and Tarun Chugh.
- What
- Employees held a statewide strike over pending DA, the Old Pension Scheme and regularisation of contractual workers.
- Where
- The strike was statewide in Punjab; Dhillon spoke to reporters in Mohali district after attending an event in Chandigarh.
- When
- The strike took place on Thursday, August 27; Dhillon made his remarks on Sunday. The year is not specified.
- Why
- Employees sought release of 18 per cent pending dearness allowance, implementation of the Old Pension Scheme and regularisation of contractual employees.
BJP and employee demands
Punjab government action
Payment of dearness allowance
BJP and employee demands
BJP leaders said the government had withheld employees’ rightful pending DA despite Punjab and Haryana High Court directions.
Punjab government action
The article reports that the government had not released the pending DA, but does not state its explanation for the delay.
Statewide strike
BJP and employee demands
Employees took mass casual leave to press for DA, the Old Pension Scheme and regularisation of contractual workers.
Punjab government action
The government treated employees absent on August 27 as potentially unauthorisedly absent and ordered show-cause notices.
Show-cause notices
BJP and employee demands
BJP leaders said the notices were an attempt to deter employees from organising collective strikes.
Punjab government action
The government directed officers to issue notices to employees who remained unauthorisedly absent.
Key facts
- Employees involved
- More than 3 lakh state government employees
- Strike method
- Mass casual leave on August 27
- Pending demand
- Release of 18 per cent dearness allowance
- Other demands
- Implementation of the Old Pension Scheme and regularisation of contractual employees
- Government action
- Show-cause notices were ordered for employees marked unauthorisedly absent
- Legal issue cited
- Kewal Singh Dhillon said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed release of the DA
- Political criticism
- BJP leaders accused the AAP government of withholding dues and discouraging collective action
Sources
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