Punjab government employees have launched a two-day mass casual leave protest over pending demands, including the release of dearness allowance (DA) arrears and the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme. Amid the first day of the protest, the Punjab Chief Secretary has invited representatives of employee organisations for a meeting at 4 pm on Wednesday.
 

According to a communication issued on Wednesday, the meeting will involve leaders of the Punjab Employees and Pensioners Joint Front, the Sanjha Mulazam Manch and the Coordination Committee. The invitation was sent to employee representatives by the Deputy Secretary (Coordination).
 

The protest has been organised by the Joint Action Committee after employee leaders alleged that the government had failed to fulfil its key demands despite assurances from the Chief Minister. The two-day programme is expected to disrupt work in government offices on Wednesday and Thursday.
 

Employees Demand Release of Pending DA Arrears
 

The employees' major demands include the release of 18 per cent pending dearness allowance (DA) arrears, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and the regularisation of contractual and outsourced employees.
 

Union leaders have maintained that the government has not addressed their principal concerns despite assurances from the Chief Minister. They have therefore launched the next phase of their agitation, with demonstrations being held across Punjab.
 

As part of the protest, employees are staging demonstrations outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh and the offices of deputy commissioners across the state.
 

Electricity Employees Also Join the Protest
 

Separately, electricity employees in Sri Anandpur Sahib observed a two-day mass casual leave following calls by the Technical Services Union (Bhangal) and the PSEB Employees Federation (AITUC).
 

The employees held a protest rally outside the sub-division office against the Punjab government, pressing for the acceptance of their demands. Speakers criticised what they described as the government's rigid attitude and said employees from various departments had been continuing their agitation under the leadership of a joint coordination committee without a resolution to their issues.
 

Their demands include the withdrawal of employee-opposed letters dated January 15, 2015, and July 17, 2020; restoration of the Old Pension Scheme; and equal pay for equal work.
 

The electricity employee unions also sought a pay scale of Rs 35,400 for Powercom employees promoted from RTM posts, the release of the pending 10 per cent DA along with arrears, and regularisation of outsourced workers.
 

Other demands include implementation of the 2.59 formula for pensioners, withdrawal of the notification concerning 12-hour workdays and the repeal of the four labour codes.
 

The Chief Secretary's meeting with employee representatives comes as the statewide protest enters its second day on Thursday, with employees continuing to press the government to resolve their pending demands.