Punjab Govt Employees to Protest Today Over DA Arrears; Government Declares Strike Illegal

September 8, 2026

Chandigarh: Punjab Government employees will hold protests today to press for their demands, including the payment of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears, even as the state government has declared the strike illegal.

Thousands of Employees to Take Mass Leave

Work in Punjab Government offices is expected to be affected on Tuesday as thousands of ministerial staff are set to stage protests by taking mass leave.

The employees have been demanding the release of pending DA arrears and action on several other service-related issues.

Unions Refuse to Back Down

Sukhchain Khera, convener of the Joint Action Committee of all unions, said the employees would not be cowed down by the government’s actions.

He said the government had transferred him from the Secretariat to the Planning Department office in Sector 33. However, he asserted that employees were determined to exercise their democratic right to protest for their genuine demands, which, he said, had also received the backing of the High Court.

Government Warns of Action

Meanwhile, Industry Minister and AAP Punjab head Aman Arora has declared the strike illegal and asserted that the government will take action against employees participating in the strike.