Angry protests erupted at the Punjab Secretariat on Thursday after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann cancelled a meeting with representatives of various employee unions that was scheduled to be held in Jalandhar this afternoon. Government employees gathered in large numbers to voice their frustration over several long-pending demands.
Punjab Employees Protest Demands: DA, OPS and Regularization
The protesting employees have been demanding the release of pending 18 per cent Dearness Allowance (DA), implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and regularization of services. According to NDTV, these demands have been at the centre of the ongoing standoff between the state government and its employees.
Manjeet Singh and Alka Chopra, both representatives of the employees' union in the Punjab Civil Secretariat, said talks were underway with union representatives who were visiting Jalandhar to meet CM Mann at PAP Jalandhar. The cancellation of this meeting appears to have triggered the immediate protest at the Secretariat.
Indefinite Strike Warning from Punjab Government Employees
The employee unions have issued a strong warning to the state government. "We are planning to go on an indefinite strike if the government does not initiate talks and settle the grievances," the employee union said. This statement signals that the situation could escalate further if a resolution is not reached soon.
The employees' key demands include the release of pending 18% Dearness Allowance and pay commission arrears, along with the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme. According to Instagram updates covering the protest, these issues have been pending for a considerable period, adding to the frustration among government staff.
"We are planning to go on an indefinite strike if the government does not initiate talks and settle the grievances." — Punjab Civil Secretariat Employees' Union
Pressure Mounts on Mann Government Over Employee Grievances
The protest comes as the Mann government faces fresh pressure over these unresolved issues. According to The Statesman, the demonstration highlights the growing discontent among state employees who have been waiting for their legitimate dues.
The employees were demanding the release of the pending 18% Dearness Allowance (DA), restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and other benefits. Reports from The Tribune indicate that scores of government employees and pensioners have been participating in these protests, making their presence felt at the Secretariat.
Our Take: Punjab Government Must Prioritize Employee Welfare
To put it plainly, this protest is a clear signal that Punjab's government employees have run out of patience. The pending 18% Dearness Allowance and the demand for the Old Pension Scheme are not new issues — they are long-standing commitments that employees have been waiting on for far too long.
In our view, cancelling the scheduled meeting with union representatives was a misstep. When employees agree to come to the table for talks, the government should seize that opportunity rather than push them further away. The threat of an indefinite strike is serious — it would disrupt public services across the state and hurt ordinary citizens who depend on government offices every day.
The Mann government needs to understand that its employees are its backbone. A state cannot function smoothly when its own workforce feels unheard and undervalued. The right move now is to reschedule the meeting immediately and come prepared with concrete solutions — not just promises. The longer this drags on, the harder it will be to restore trust.
For the employees, the message is equally clear: protests are a legitimate tool, but an indefinite strike should be the last resort, not the first response. Both sides need to find common ground before the situation spirals further out of control.
