Punjab Employees’ Two-Day Protest Over Pending Demands May Disrupt Offices, Schools and Power Services

October 21, 2026

CHANDIGARH: Punjab government employees began a two-day mass casual leave protest on Wednesday, October 21, over pending demands related to pensions, salaries and job security. The agitation is set to continue on Thursday, October 22, when the Punjab Vidhan Sabha is also scheduled to meet.

The protest has been organised by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of employees’ unions. Teachers, midday meal workers, power corporation staff and employees from several other departments are taking part. Their absence from work could affect government offices, schools and some public services, depending on participation.

Unions have planned demonstrations in Chandigarh, Mohali and other districts. Employees are expected to gather outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh and near PUDA Bhawan in Mohali. District-level protests have also been planned outside Deputy Commissioners’ offices, with demonstrations scheduled to begin at 10 am on Wednesday.

Employees Say Government Assurances Have Not Led to Action

Sukhchain Khera, convenor of the Sanjha Mullazam Manch, said the unions had received indications that a meeting with the Chief Secretary could be arranged. However, employee representatives declined the offer, saying Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had already promised to meet them.

Khera said the promised follow-up meeting had not taken place and their demands remained unresolved. Union members say repeated discussions and assurances have failed to bring the changes they have been seeking.

The latest protest follows an earlier pen-down agitation that was called off after a meeting between the chief minister and employee representatives in September. However, some employees remained dissatisfied with the outcome and continued to press for action on their demands.

Old Pension Scheme, DA Arrears Among Key Demands

Restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) is one of the main demands. Employee unions are also seeking the release of 18 per cent in pending dearness allowance (DA) arrears, resolution of pay anomalies and implementation of benefits linked to the Sixth Pay Commission.

The unions have demanded the implementation of a 2.59 multiplication factor and restoration of Assured Career Progression (ACP) benefits for eligible employees. They say these changes are needed to address salary-related concerns and ensure employees receive the benefits due to them.

Regularisation of contractual and outsourced workers is another major demand. Midday meal workers have also raised concerns over wages and working conditions.

Unions Seek Changes to Pay Rules

The employee organisations are also calling for the withdrawal of two orders that they say have affected salaries and service conditions.

One is the January 15, 2015, order under which employees recruited during their probation period were paid basic salary without the usual allowances. The other is the July 17, 2020, order affecting employees recruited after that date, who were placed under lower Central pay scales.

The unions argue that these rules have created differences in pay and benefits among employees.

Vikramdev, state president of the Democratic Teachers Front, said teachers, midday meal workers and staff from other departments had been waiting for years for key promises to be fulfilled. He said the mass leave protest was intended to show the strength of the employees’ movement and push the government to act.

Gurpreet Singh Mehdoodan, state secretary of the PSEB Employees Federation (AITUC), said the protest had brought together employees from different departments around common concerns, including pensions, pay structures and job security. He warned that the agitation could intensify if the government failed to respond.

Schools and Power Services May Face Disruption

The impact of the protest will depend on how many employees stay away from work. Government offices and administrative services may face delays, while the participation of teachers and midday meal workers could affect activities in some schools. Work at Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) offices may also be affected.

Some transport unions have extended support to the agitation, raising concerns about possible disruption to public transport. The extent of any impact on transport and essential services remains uncertain.

With the protest coinciding with the Vidhan Sabha session on October 22, the unions are seeking to increase pressure on the state government. They have warned that further action could follow if their demands remain unresolved.

For now, employees are waiting to see whether the government will hold fresh talks and offer concrete decisions on pensions, DA arrears, pay-related issues and the regularisation of contractual workers.