6 days ago
Punjab Employees’ Maha Hartal Disrupts Services Over DA, Pension Demands
Punjab government workers stopped regular work for one day to protest.
They say the government owes them dearness allowance money.
They also want the Old Pension Scheme brought back.
Schools, offices and some hospital services were affected.
Hospital emergency rooms and mother-and-child services stayed open.
Shops and private businesses continued working.
The protest also included pensioners and some contractual workers.
The government said it has already paid much of the money and plans to pay valid remaining dues.
Government leaders and employee unions were scheduled to discuss the demands.
Punjab government employees held a day-long Maha Hartal on Thursday, disrupting public offices, schools, colleges and government hospital OPDs.
Unions demanded payment of pending dearness allowance arrears, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and other employment-related changes.
Government employees currently receive 42% DA, while unions cite 60% for central government and Haryana employees.
Emergency medical care and mother-and-child services continued, while markets, private businesses and roads were not covered by the protest.
The Punjab government said it had paid more than Rs 6,000 crore, or around Rs 5,000-6,000 crore according to another statement, and would clear legally valid remaining dues.
- Who
- Punjab government employees, pensioners, contractual workers and more than 150 employee organisations, with support from farmer groups and opposition parties.
- What
- A statewide Maha Hartal involving mass casual leave and demonstrations over DA arrears, the Old Pension Scheme and other employment demands.
- Where
- Government offices, schools, colleges, hospitals, district and tehsil offices, directorates and the Punjab Civil Secretariat across Punjab.
- When
- Thursday; hospital nursing, paramedical and Class IV staff had announced mass casual leave on August 27.
- Why
- Unions say DA arrears remain unpaid and are seeking court compliance, pension changes, worker regularisation and other service-related reforms.
Employees and Their Supporters
Punjab Government
DA arrears
Employees and Their Supporters
Employee unions said DA is a rightful entitlement, that arrears remain unpaid and that the government must comply with court directions and provide clear payment timelines.
Punjab Government
The government said it inherited a large liability from earlier governments, has already paid several thousand crore rupees and is committed to clearing legally valid dues.
Need for the strike
Employees and Their Supporters
Unions said repeated or postponed meetings had failed to resolve their demands, forcing a statewide protest involving employees, pensioners and contractual workers.
Punjab Government
Government leaders said employees have the right to protest, but Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was reaching out and expected a positive resolution through talks.
Pension and service demands
Employees and Their Supporters
Employees sought restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, regularisation of contractual and other workers, pay-scale changes and withdrawal of the three-year probation system.
Punjab Government
The government said action on most major demands was already under process, but the reports did not state that it had agreed to restore the Old Pension Scheme.
Key facts
- DA received
- Punjab government employees receive 42% dearness allowance, according to the reports.
- Union comparison
- Employee unions said central government and Haryana employees receive 60% DA.
- DA arrears
- Unions said arrears have remained unpaid since January 2023; the government cited inherited pay-commission and DA liabilities from earlier periods.
- Court order
- The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed Punjab to release pending DA within 15 days; the reports said the deadline had passed and a compliance or contempt process was pending.
- Strike participation
- Unions claimed more than three lakh employees participated; reports said more than 150 organisations joined, while some representatives put the number above 250.
- Services affected
- Government hospital OPDs, general operations, public offices and educational institutions were disrupted.
- Government position
- Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the government had cleared more than Rs 6,000 crore or around Rs 5,000-6,000 crore, depending on the statement reported, and would release legally valid remaining dues.
Quotes
Dr Inder Manjit Singh
State vice-president of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association
“It is deeply unfortunate and painful that despite repeated judicial pronouncements, the AAP government continues to disregard the legitimate claims of its employees and pensioners. Such an attitude reflects the government’s insensitivity towards those who served the state for decades.”
indianexpress.com
“We are doing all the welfare measures for employees and the masses overall which no other government in the past had done. However, employees have the right to protest and we are here to hear them out. Everything will be resolved.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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