Employees across various government departments in Punjab will go on a mass strike on August 27 to press for their pending demands. While operations in government offices are likely to be affected, this event is not being termed a ‘Punjab Bandh’ (statewide shutdown); markets will remain open, and public transport as well as health services will continue to operate normally.
Balwinder Singh Bath, Chairman of the Punjab Roadways State Body, clarified that government bus services will not be suspended on August 27. Punjab Roadways buses will ply their scheduled routes as usual, and private bus operations will also continue. There will be no road blockades organized by the employees. Hospital OPDs will remain open.
Health services will remain unaffected by the strike. Hospital Outpatient Departments (OPDs) will function as usual, allowing patients to consult doctors without disruption. Markets will also remain open, so daily activities for the general public are expected to continue normally. However, work in government offices will be impacted on August 27 due to the employees’ mass leave, potentially causing inconvenience to people visiting for government-related tasks. The employees have decided to stage this mass strike to voice their demands against the government.
Protest Over Demands
The employees allege that the Punjab government has failed to fulfill several promises made prior to the elections. Their key demands include the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, payment of an 18% Dearness Allowance (DA), and the release of 18% arrears on DA to employees and pensioners based on the central pattern, in accordance with the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order dated August 3.
Additionally, the employees are demanding the payment of basic salary, the implementation of the ACP (Assured Career Progression) scheme, and the regularization of contractual staff. They have stated that their agitation will continue until a concrete decision regarding their demands is reached. What will open, what will remain closed
Government buses: Will operate
Private buses: Will operate
Hospital OPDs: Will remain open
Markets: Will remain open
Road blockade: Will not take place
Government offices: Operations will be affected
