Employees operating Punjab's crucial 108 ambulance service have launched a significant protest against the state government, alleging the denial of basic labour rights and issuing a stern warning about potential disruptions to emergency medical services.
Protest in Mohali Highlights Long-Standing Grievances
On Monday, December 22, 2025, an association representing 108 ambulance staff from across Punjab gathered in Mohali to voice their frustrations. The demonstration commenced outside Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Phase 8, with protesters later marching to the office of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) to hold discussions with senior officials.
The union's leadership, including President Mani Kumar and General Secretary Sat Narain, presented a scathing critique of the system. They alleged that since 2011, successive state governments have consistently awarded the service contract to the same private company, leading to what they term continuous economic and mental exploitation of the workforce.
Eight-Point Charter of Demands
The heart of the protest is an eight-point charter of demands presented to the PHSC management. The key requirements include a substantial salary increase to align with the pay scale of ambulance staff in neighbouring Haryana, set between Rs 40,000 and Rs 45,000. They are also demanding strict enforcement of an 8-hour duty shift, as per Punjab Labour Department rules, with overtime payment for any extra hours.
Currently, employees claim they are forced to work 12-hour shifts without any compensation for the additional four hours. Other major demands are:
- Provision of a minimum Rs 50-lakh insurance cover for all staff.
- Direct payment of salaries from the government treasury by the 5th of every month.
- Implementation of a system for annual increments.
- Bringing ambulance employees formally under the state Health Department.
- Granting experience-based weightage in government recruitment, following the model used in Rajasthan.
Partial Wins and Broken Promises
During the meeting with PHSC officials, a seven-member union delegation led by Vice-President Arvind Chauhan reported some immediate progress. Two demands were accepted on the spot: ensuring timely payment of salaries and providing an insurance cover.
However, the employees expressed deep dissatisfaction with the government's overall approach. They revealed that the Health Minister had previously assured them that their concerns would be addressed and that salary revisions would be incorporated into a new tender proposed for January 2026. The staff alleged that no follow-up meetings occurred and no concrete action was taken despite their repeated attempts at dialogue.
Union officials stated that PHSC directors assured them the remaining demands would be discussed soon with the Health Minister and the Principal Secretary. They also promised that the upcoming tender would be suitably amended to accommodate the staff's concerns.
Ultimatum and Warning of Escalation
The protesting ambulance staff have issued a clear ultimatum to the Punjab government and the private contractor. The union president warned that if their legitimate demands are not addressed promptly, the agitation will be intensified.
They placed the responsibility for any potential disruption to the vital 108 ambulance services squarely on the shoulders of the state government and the concerned private company. This standoff puts a critical emergency service in Punjab at risk, highlighting the ongoing struggle of frontline healthcare workers for fair wages and dignified working conditions.
