Government workers in Punjab have announced a strike across the entire state on August 27. According to Sukhachin Singh Haira, leader of the Punjab workers' platform, work will be halted on that day in all government institutions, including the offices of Deputy Commissioners, SDMs, the Revenue Department, and the Transport Department.
Employees from the medical sector, schools and colleges, as well as pensioners, will support the strike. Workers claim that the government has failed to meet the demands of the Punjab and Haryana High Courts regarding the payment of installments of an 18 percent increment for Dearness Allowance (DA) and outstanding debts.
The main demands of the workers include the payment of the withheld 18 percent DA, the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), and the regularization of contract workers. Furthermore, they demand the introduction of a minimum wage for workers such as those in the school meal program, ASHA, and Anganwadi, the restoration of the ACP program (Assured Career Progression), and the application of the Punjab pay scale for employees hired after July 17, 2020.
Protesters emphasized that despite repeated assurances, the state government has been unable to satisfy their demands. Sukhachin Singh Haira reported that the employees will hold rallies at district headquarters to ensure their demands are met. It is worth noting that a large rally involving many government employees and pensioners also took place earlier on August 7.
In Chandigarh, thousands of Punjab government employees held an active protest regarding their unpaid demands. Employees from various departments gathered at Dana Mandi Ground in Sector-39. During the demonstration, workers chanted slogans against the AAP government and attempted to break through barricades. Chandigarh police used water cannons against the demonstrators. Despite the use of water cannons, many nurses who arrived from Amritsar remained at the site of the action.