Breaking: Punjab Employees, Pensioners call for statewide shutdown on Aug 27 over pending demands
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, August 24, 2026: Punjab employees and pensioners have announced a statewide shutdown on August 27 to press the state government for the release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) instalments, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and resolution of other long-pending demands.
The decision was taken at a meeting of various employee and pensioner organisations affiliated with the Punjab Employees and Pensioners Joint Front and the Punjab Joint Employees Platform. Leaders discussed preparations for the August 27 shutdown and chalked out a strategy to ensure maximum participation.
The organisations accused the Punjab government of failing to fulfil assurances given to employees and pensioners before coming to power. They said several demands had remained unresolved for years, leading to growing resentment among employees and pensioners.
Key demands
The organisations have demanded the immediate release of all pending DA instalments and full implementation of the Old Pension Scheme. They have also sought reconsideration of the decision to implement salary scales on the Central Government pattern, saying the move should be reviewed in the interest of employees.
Another key demand is the withdrawal of the three-year probation period imposed on newly recruited employees and related orders that the organisations described as anti-employee.
The employee bodies have also demanded the implementation of decisions passed by the Double Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in favour of employees.
Government offices to remain shut on August 27
According to the organisations, government institutions across Punjab will remain non-functional during the shutdown on August 27.
Employees from schools, colleges, the electricity department, SDM offices, tehsils, revenue offices and other administrative departments are expected to participate in the strike. Both contractual and regular employees have been urged to join the protest.
The organisations said employees would take collective leave from duty and participate in demonstrations against the state government’s policies.
Leaders warned that the August 27 shutdown would not mark the end of the agitation. They said that if the Punjab government failed to address their demands after the protest, the movement would be intensified and expanded further.