Finance Minister Cheema holds meetings with employee unions, directs officials to swiftly act on legitimate demands

Punjab’s Finance, Planning, Excise, and Taxation Minister Harpal Cheema has instructed the Education Department to prioritize addressing the legitimate demands of the Unaided Staff Front (Aided School). This came during meetings he held as the Chairman of a Cabinet Sub-Committee with various employee unions in his office. In a later meeting with the Daftri Karamchari.

Punjab’s Finance, Planning, Excise, and Taxation Minister Harpal Cheema has instructed the Education Department to prioritize addressing the legitimate demands of the Unaided Staff Front (Aided School). This came during meetings he held as the Chairman of a Cabinet Sub-Committee with various employee unions in his office.

In a later meeting with the Daftri Karamchari Union, Cheema shared that the Cabinet Sub-Committee had requested the Officers’ Committee to evaluate the regularization of school office staff, similar to the regularization processes for teachers in 2018 and 2022, and to provide a report within a month. He also urged the School Education Department to swiftly address the pay anomaly concerns raised by these employees.

The Murr Bahal Adhiyapak Union called for the prompt completion of their reinstatement process. In response, Cheema instructed the School Education Department to compile a list of dismissed teachers and verify the reasons for their termination, underlining that cases of unjust dismissals should be reconsidered with empathy. Additionally, regarding the request from the 2,364 ETT Selected Adhiyapak Union to lift the ban on selecting posting locations, the union was informed that the portal for this purpose was now operational.

The Joint Action Committee of Veterinary Officers for Pay Parity raised issues about their lower basic pay scale in comparison to medical and dental officers following the implementation of the Central pay scale for new recruits. They also requested housing allowances similar to those in the Health Department. Cheema instructed the Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry to meet with the Principal Secretary of Finance promptly to discuss solutions and evaluate the financial implications. He also directed the Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry to convene a meeting with the Veterinary Worker Union to present proposals addressing their valid demands.

In response to concerns from the Gram Panchayat Water Supply Pump Operators’ Association, Cheema ordered the Director of Rural Development and Panchayats to consider establishing block-level committees to tackle these issues. He also instructed the department to request the central government to revise the qualifications required for the training program for these employees, ensuring that all staff can benefit from the training.