Punjab Government Employees Continue Strike After Talks Fail Over OPS and Other Demands

October 22, 2026

Ludhiana: The Punjab government employees said to continue their strike after a late-night meeting with Chief Secretary ended without an agreement on Wednesday. The employees said the government had failed to address their key demands, including the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and regularisation of contractual staff.

The strike is expected to affect government offices, state-run bus services, schools and administrative work across Punjab. Employees have also said they will not resume duties during the Punjab Legislative Assembly session, which begins on Thursday.

To strengthen their protest, the Sanjhi Talmel Committee has called a meeting in Ludhiana on October 25 to decide the next course of action.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has taken a stricter approach towards employees participating in the strike. The Department of General Administration has asked secretaries, directors and deputy commissioners to submit lists of employees who are absent without approved leave.

The directive has angered employee representatives, who accuse the government of trying to pressure them instead of resolving their concerns. The committee has urged employees across the state to join the ongoing protest.

Chief Secretary Rejects OPS Demand, Employees Say

The Old Pension Scheme was among the main issues discussed during Wednesday’s meeting. Digvijay Pal Sharma of the Democratic Teacher Front said employee representatives had sought the implementation of OPS in line with an earlier government notification.

According to Sharma, the Chief Secretary rejected the demand and instead highlighted the benefits of the New Pension Scheme (NPS). The discussion continued for a considerable period, but the two sides failed to reach an agreement.

Employee representatives said the meeting had made it clear that the government was not prepared to implement OPS at present.

Contractual Employees Seek Regular Status and Full Benefits

The regularisation of contractual employees was another major issue raised during the meeting.

Germanjit Singh, convener of the Sanjhi Talmel Committee, said employees who were granted permanent status under the government’s 2023 policy were seeking the same salaries, allowances and benefits available to regular employees.

He said the Chief Secretary had explained that employees whose services had been confirmed would have job security until the age of 58. However, Singh argued that job security alone did not amount to formal regularisation or provide the full benefits enjoyed by regular staff.

According to Singh, the government remained unwilling to grant permanent status beyond the framework of its 2023 policy, which employee representatives have already opposed.

The committee also raised concerns about workers employed through outsourcing under central government schemes. Singh said the Chief Secretary could not provide details of a policy covering these employees.

Anganwadi, ASHA Workers and Allowances Among Key Issues

The meeting also covered the demands of ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and mid-day meal workers. Singh said the government had cited a lack of funds to meet their demands.

Employees have also sought 37 different allowances. According to Singh, the Chief Secretary discussed the possibility of reviewing the rural allowance but did not give any firm assurance. The remaining 36 allowances were described as outdated, he said.

Another point of disagreement concerned employees who are currently paid according to central pay scales under two government notifications. Employee representatives want them to receive Punjab pay scales, but Singh said the government did not respond positively to the demand.

Government Promises Committee for Pensioners

The discussion on pensioners’ issues showed some signs of progress, according to Singh. The government has assured employees that a four-member committee will be formed to examine pensioners’ demands.

A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the matter further. However, employee leaders have made it clear that this assurance will not lead to an immediate end to the strike.

Bus Services and Government Work Likely to Be Hit

With employees continuing their protest, state-run bus services are expected to remain suspended or disrupted. Work at government offices, deputy commissioner offices and tehsil offices is also likely to suffer.

Government schools may face disruption as teachers take leave to participate in the strike. The employees have also declared that they will not perform duties during the Assembly session, despite the government’s legislative business beginning on Thursday.

The Sanjhi Talmel Committee has maintained that the strike will continue until the government addresses the employees’ demands. Its October 25 meeting in Ludhiana is expected to shape the next phase of the agitation.