Punjab government employees are observing a massive strike today, August 27, following a call by the *Sajha Karamchari Manch* (Joint Employees’ Forum). They are demanding the implementation of the Punjab-Haryana High Court’s ruling regarding the 18% Dearness Allowance (DA).
Employees have halted work in government offices across the state—including the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh—to register their protest against the government. Government operations are likely to be affected by this strike.
Amidst the strike, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has convened a meeting with leaders of the *Sajha Karamchari Manch* at the PAP headquarters in Jalandhar at 1:00 PM today. Several employee leaders, including *Sajha Karamchari Manch* Coordinator Sukhchain Singh Khaira and Punjab Civil Secretariat Employees’ Association President Sushil Kumar Fauji, have departed from Chandigarh for Jalandhar to attend the meeting.
10 Employee Leaders to Participate
In addition to the *Sajha Karamchari Manch*, leaders from the association formed for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and the Pensioners’ Association will also participate in the meeting with the Chief Minister. A total of 10 employee leaders are expected to attend. They will present their other demands to the government alongside the demand for the implementation of the 18% DA.
Apart from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, the Chief Secretary, the Finance Secretary, the Secretary of the Department of Personnel, and other senior officials will be present at the meeting.
Hopes for a Resolution Amidst the Strike
Employees state that the government should demonstrate seriousness regarding the implementation of the High Court’s verdict on the 18% DA. The *Sajha Karamchari Manch* called for the massive strike precisely to press this demand. All eyes are now on the meeting scheduled for 1:00 PM. Employee organizations hope that a concrete decision regarding their demands will be reached during the meeting with the Chief Minister. The employee organizations will determine their future strategy regarding the strike based on the meeting’s outcome.
