Punjab Government Employees Launch Pen-Down Strike Over Pending Dearness Allowance Demands
Punjab government employees launched a statewide pen-down strike today, September 8, to demand pending dearness allowances and full implementation of benefits. The action disrupted public services as unions rejected partial concessions and vowed to escalate protests. Scroll below to know more about the strike and long-pending demands.
Government employees across Punjab went on a pen-down strike on Tuesday, September 8, under the banner of the Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch to press for long-standing demands, prominently including the release of their pending dearness allowance. The agitation caused disruptions at government offices across the state, including the directorates in Chandigarh and various district headquarters, leaving members of the public who had travelled for administrative work unable to complete their tasks.
The Pen-Down Strike and District Protests
The statewide agitation saw ministerial staff shut down their computers and boycott official duties. Protesters gathered outside offices to raise slogans against the state government, criticising its ongoing policies regarding employee benefits, reports PTI. Punjab: Man Dies by Suicide Days After Questioning Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Over Drug Menace.
In Hoshiarpur, district president Anirudh Modgil and senior vice-president Deepak Trihan led protests, alleging that the government has withheld an 18 per cent dearness allowance (DA), Assured Career Progression (ACP) benefits, and other allowances. Modgil added that following decisions by the Joint Coordination Committee, employees plan to begin gheraoing Punjab ministers starting September 12. Similarly, employees in Ferozepur staged a demonstration at the District Administrative Complex. Punjab State Ministerial Services Union district president Pippal Singh stated that the government had offered prolonged assurances without taking concrete corrective measures.
Regarding the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), Singh remarked, "The government had promised restoration of the Old Pension Scheme in its election manifesto. Though a notification regarding the OPS has been issued, the complete procedure and necessary conditions for its implementation had not yet been clarified," adding that subsequently recruited personnel remain under the new pension system.
Government Warning and Standoff
The strike proceeded despite Cabinet Minister Aman Arora declaring on Monday, September 7, that the proposed agitation was "illegal" and warning of strict action if essential public services or the general public faced severe inconvenience. The state administration had previously issued show-cause notices following an earlier statewide strike on August 27 involving over 3 lakh government employees. A planned meeting between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and union representatives on August 27 failed to take place after the administration maintained that talks could only occur if the strike call was withdrawn.
Core Disputes Over Dearness Allowance
The primary flashpoint centres on unpaid dearness allowance arrears. While the state government announced a hike in DA from 42 per cent to 60 per cent for roughly 85,000 employees recruited after July 17, 2020, under the 7th Pay Commission pattern, employees appointed prior to that date are excluded. Employee bodies remain firm on the clearance of full arrears in line with previous directions. The Punjab government has challenged a Punjab and Haryana High Court order in the Supreme Court, which directed the settlement of all pending dearness allowance and relief dues within a fortnight, arguing that paying out approximately INR 14,191 crore in such a short window is constitutionally and financially unfeasible.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 08, 2026 03:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
