On Wednesday, the Punjab Employees Joint Front and Punjab Employees Coordination Committee organised a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Ludhiana. The demonstration was part of a statewide call by employee unions to hold sit-ins at DC offices across Punjab.
Union leaders accuse government of reneging on promises
Union leaders accused the government of reneging on its commitments and said the protest aimed to remind authorities of their promises. They warned that if the government failed to act immediately, employee unions would intensify their agitation. Plans include statewide protests outside the homes of MLAs and ministers between July 1 and July 10, followed by a mass rally in Mohali on July 17.
Key demands of the protesters
The key demands raised by the protesters included restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) instalments, revision of pensioners’ pay commission with a 2.59 multiplier, withdrawal of letters detrimental to employees’ interests, implementation of the assured career progression (ACP) scheme, restoration of 37 allowances, provision of honorarium and incentives, and regularisation of contractual and temporary employees.
