[REVISION HISTORY]

Punjab government employee and pensioner strikes

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-06 06:27 UTC → 2026-09-09 06:11 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Approximately 300,000 government employees and 400,000 pensioners in Punjab initiated a statewide strike on August 27, organized by the Sanjha Mulazam Manch. The protest aims to pressure the Bhagwant Mann-led government to address long-standing demands, including the release of pending 18 percent Dearness Allowance (DA) installments, the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), and the regularization of contract workers. In addition to previous demands, protesters are calling for the restoration of the Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme and minimum wages for ASHA, Anganwadi, and mid-day meal workers. The strike has caused significant disruptions to public services, including education, electricity, agriculture, and animal husbandry. While emergency medical services remain operational, outpatient department (OPD) services at government hospitals and various administrative offices, including the Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh, have faced shutdowns. The strike has triggered a political standoff. The opposition Congress party has criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s approach as “autocratic,” while the Chief Minister has stated that dialogue will only resume once the strike is called off. In response to the mass absence, the Department of Personnel has directed administrative secretaries to compile lists of employees absent without authorization, noting that “necessary action will be taken against such employees in accordance with service rules.” To address pay disparities, ongoing unrest, a three-member Cabinet Sub-Committee—comprising Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Industries and Commerce Minister Aman Arora, and Social Security Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur—has recommended increasing the DA from 42% to 60% for approximately 85,000 employees. This proposal ~~specifically~~ targets staff recruited after July 17, 2020, who follow the Central Government’s 7th Pay Commission pattern, aiming to align their benefits with Central Government rates. The recommendation ~~now~~ awaits final approval from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. As the confrontation persists, employee organizations have extended their pen-down strike through September 11. Protesters are also demanding the withdrawal of show-cause notices issued for ‘unauthorized absences’ and the reversal of a transfer involving employee leader Sushil Kumar Fauji. The Punjab government has responded by enforcing a ‘no work, no pay’ policy. The Department of Personnel has issued strict directives to administrative secretaries to address employees who mark attendance but remain absent from their desks, noting that such behavior causes “administrative inconvenience to the public.” While ministerial employees in Chandigarh and Mohali have engaged in pen-down strikes, essential services such as schools, health institutions, and bus services reportedly remain operational.

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