The Punjab government employees and pensioners are demanding a range of changes, including a 18% Dearness Allowance (DA) hike, the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), the implementation of the 4-9-14 Assured Career Progression (ACP) Scheme, the withdrawal of notifications related to probation and pay rules, the regularisation of contractual, outsourced and other temporary employees, the revision of pensions in line with the recommendations of the 6th Punjab state pay commission, the restoration of withdrawn allowances, the enhancement of retirement gratuity, the implementation of the 6th Punjab state pay commission’s remaining recommendations, and the extension of minimum wages to women working on honorarium under various government schemes. These demands have been made by the Joint Coordination Committee (JAC) of Punjab Government Employees and Pensioners, who have been protesting outside the cabinet minister Hardeep Singh Mundian's house in Ludhiana and submitting a memorandum demanding a quick resolution. The JAC has also called for a rally on 17 July in Mohali to further press their demands, warning that more delay from the state government would leave them no option but to strengthen protests. The Punjab government has announced that it will consider payment of pending DA and dearness relief (DR) dues of state government employees and pensioners for the period between 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2024. It has also said that a sub-committee will discuss payment of arrears for employees and pensioners based on revised salary and pension benefits for the period between 1 January 2016 to 30 June 2021. The Punjab Cabinet has granted ex-post facto approval for the reconstitution of a Cabinet sub-committee comprising Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora and Baljit Kaur to examine issues related to pending arrears of revised pay, pensions, leave encashment and dearness allowance. The government has also approved the process to dismantle a decades-old contractual employment system and regularisation framework for over 65,000 workers across 51 government departments. This reform will benefit more than 26,000 workers, with those performing duties involving risks to life and health receiving faster consideration under the policy. The demands of the JAC are significant and reflect the concerns of Punjab government employees and pensioners. The government's response to these demands will be crucial in determining the future of these workers and pensioners. The JAC's protest and rally on 17 July will be a key moment in this process, and the government's actions in the coming weeks will be closely watched by the public and the media.
