Punjab government employees on strike, office work paralyzed for five days
Office work will remain suspended for five days due to the strike by Punjab State Ministerial Services Union and upcoming government holidays.
Government employees across Punjab have launched a front against the government over their long-pending demands. Following the call of the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union (PSMSU), a pen-down and computer-off strike is being observed in all government offices of the state on November 5 and 6.
With the addition of the last two days of the week and the holiday on Vishwakarma Day, the administrative offices of the state will remain closed for the next five days. This will cause difficulties for common citizens reaching out for their daily official work.
On the first day of protests, employees staged strong demonstrations at various places including Jalandhar and Pathankot. Protesters gathered in Jalandhar burned an effigy of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and accused the government of backing out of its promises.
Pathankot district president Vishalveer Singh said that employees have been submitting memorandums in support of their demands for the last five years, but the government continues to show apathy.
The government recently announced a three percent hike in dearness allowance, which has been rejected by employee leaders. The organization says that the government is not clearing past dues, while they demand that old DA dues be released with interest.
The union has also demanded the cancellation of the government letter dated July 17, 2020, full restoration of the old pension scheme, implementation of the 2.59 formula for pensioners, and regularisation of contractual workers.
Key developments
- PSMSU started pen-down strike on November 5 and 6
- Administrative work to remain suspended for five consecutive days due to holidays
- Employees rejected 3 percent DA hike and demanded arrears
- Emphasis on restoration of old pension and regularisation of contractual employees
