Chandigarh, August 7: Hundreds of Punjab government employees and pensioners staged a massive protest in Sector 39, demanding the release of 18% pending dearness allowance (DA) and arrears, the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), and the regularisation of contractual and outsourced employees.
As protesters tried to march towards the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chandigarh Police set up barricades and used water cannons to disperse them. The protest was organised by the Sanjha Mulazam and Pensioners Front and Sanjha Mulazam Manch Punjab, with participation from several employee organisations.
The unions warned that if their demands are not met, government employees across Punjab will observe a mass leave and a complete strike on August 27. This action could shut government offices from tehsil complexes to the Punjab Civil Secretariat.
Union leaders also called for the implementation of minimum wages for workers, the restoration of the ACP scheme, and the extension of Punjab pay scales to employees recruited after July 17, 2020.
