The Punjab government has commenced disciplinary action against approximately 2,500 employees who were reportedly absent without permission during a statewide strike on August 27. This action follows an order from the government to department heads to issue show-cause notices to those employees who did not attend work that day.

Sources indicate that over three lakh government employees participated in the strike, while a significant number opted for mass casual leave. The large-scale protest disrupted the functioning of various government departments and resulted in the suspension of outpatient services at numerous public healthcare facilities.

The striking employees have put forward multiple demands, which include the disbursement of the pending 18 per cent dearness allowance, the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme, and the regularisation of contractual workers. Additional calls for improving minimum wages for mid-day meal, ASHA, and Anganwadi workers have also emerged during the protests.

Listing and Notification of Absentees

In an earlier directive, the personnel department instructed all administrative secretaries and heads of departments to create lists of absent employees and submit them to the Department of General Administration. This move follows complaints from the public regarding difficulties caused by the absence of officials in various government offices.

It has now been confirmed that nearly 2,500 employees have been identified for having missed work without proper authorization. The government has mandated that the respective departments commence action against these individuals as per relevant service rules.

The protest not only affected government operations but also had wider implications, as it involved participation from over 150 employee organisations associated with the Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch. Additionally, more than 3.5 lakh pensioners showed their support for the strike initiative, which contributed to the diminished workforce across various public offices in Punjab.

Impact of the Strike on Services and Scheduled Meetings

Across Punjab, government offices experienced either low attendance or were left largely empty as employees protested at district headquarters, voicing their discontent with the current government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Outpatient services in several hospitals were halted, although emergency services continued to operate, along with critical maternity and inpatient care.

Moreover, elective surgeries were postponed in multiple hospitals, and disruptions were reported in government schools and colleges, particularly in Hoshiarpur, as educators and clerical staff took casual leave. Employees across various sectors, including health, education, agriculture, and public works, actively participated in the protest events, which also occurred in cities like Ludhiana, Amritsar, Phagwara, and Jalandhar.

A scheduled meeting aimed at addressing the concerns of employee representatives was cancelled by Chief Minister Mann, who stated that discussions could only occur once the strike was lifted. The employee groups, however, insisted on an immediate and unconditional meeting with him to address their grievances.

Mann expressed his willingness to listen to the legitimate concerns of employees but emphasised that dialogue should not take place in parallel with a strike. He further asserted that Punjab government employees are among the highest compensated in India. In contrast, opposition parties such as the Congress, BJP, and Shiromani Akali Dal voiced their support for the protesters and accused the AAP government of neglecting their demands.

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