Breaking: Talks fail, Punjab Govt bus employees’ strike to continue
Ravi Jakhu
Chandigarh, October 21, 2026: Contractual employees of Punjab’s government bus services will continue their strike after a meeting with the state government remained inconclusive, Resham Singh, president of the employees’ organisation, said on Wednesday.
Singh said a meeting had been scheduled with Transport Minister Harpal Cheema, but no agreement could be reached on the employees’ demands.
According to Singh, officials of the Transport Department said the data required to issue a notification was still awaited from the Personnel Department. Although the government gave a time-bound assurance regarding the notification, the employees’ representatives insisted that the commitment be provided in writing.
A similar explanation was given regarding the demand to bring outsourced employees under the contractual system, Singh said, adding that the relevant data was yet to be received from the Personnel Department.
Singh said the employees wanted a written assurance bearing the signature of the Secretary of the Transport Department to ensure that the government’s commitment was formalised.
He said the employees would consider ending the strike once the government provided the assurance in writing. Until then, the strike would continue.