1 week ago
Punjab government employees plan statewide strike over long-pending demands
Punjab government employees and pensioners plan to stop work across the state on August 27.
They want the government to address several demands that they say have been pending for a long time.
These include unpaid dearness allowance and the return of the Old Pension Scheme.
They also want some contract workers to receive permanent jobs.
Many government offices, schools and colleges may be affected.
Hospital outpatient departments may close, but emergency services are expected to continue.
The workers say they will demonstrate at district levels without blocking roads.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is expected to meet their representatives in Jalandhar that day.
More than 150 employee organizations have joined the August 27 statewide strike.
Protests will affect government offices, schools, colleges, universities and several departments across Punjab.
Employees are demanding pending dearness allowance, the Old Pension Scheme and contractual-worker regularisation.
Government-run hospital OPDs are expected to remain suspended, except for emergency services.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is scheduled to meet employee representatives in Jalandhar on the strike date.
- Who
- More than 150 Punjab government employee organizations, employees and pensioners, with support from Partap Singh Bajwa and the Congress Legislative Party.
- What
- A statewide, day-long strike over pending dearness allowance, pension, pay and employment-related demands.
- Where
- Government offices and institutions across Punjab, with district-level demonstrations and a meeting in Jalandhar.
- When
- August 27; a meeting between Bhagwant Mann and employee representatives is also scheduled for that day.
- Why
- The employee bodies say the state government has not resolved their long-pending demands despite repeated assurances.
Employee organizations and supporters
Punjab government position
Pending employee demands
Employee organizations and supporters
Employee bodies say the Aam Aadmi Party government has failed to address demands including dearness allowance, the Old Pension Scheme and contractual-worker regularisation despite repeated assurances.
Punjab government position
The articles do not provide a response from the Punjab government to the employees’ allegations or demands.
Political response
Employee organizations and supporters
Partap Singh Bajwa and the Congress Legislative Party support the strike and describe it as evidence of growing frustration among employees.
Punjab government position
No opposing statement from the Aam Aadmi Party government is reported in the article.
Key facts
- Strike date
- August 27
- Organizations involved
- More than 150 employee bodies
- People represented
- Around three lakh government employees and 3.50 lakh pensioners
- Key allowance demand
- Release of pending 18 per cent dearness allowance and arrears
- Other major demands
- Implementation of the Old Pension Scheme and regularisation of contractual employees
- Services potentially affected
- Civil Secretariat, district and revenue offices, health, transport, education and government-run institutions
- Protest format
- District-level demonstrations, with no road blockades planned
Quotes
Partap Singh Bajwa
Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha
“Today, those very employees who welcomed him with respect are being treated with disrespect and are being forced to take to the streets and courts to secure their legitimate rights. This is deeply unfortunate.”
theprint.in
“When Bhagwant Mann first came to the Punjab Civil Secretariat as Chief Minister, government employees welcomed him with flower petals.”
theprint.in
Sources
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