After a 40-day pen-down strike by the Punjab State Ministerial Service Union (PSMSU), Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann addressed their concerns in a meeting held in Chandigarh. The announcement of a four per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) for government employees, effective from 1 December, 2023, came as a positive outcome of the deliberations.
The decision prompted the union to suspend their strike, making way for constructive dialogue.
Beyond the DA hike, the employees had long-standing demands, including the reinstatement of the old pension scheme, the release of pending 12 per cent DA and the regularisation of contractual employees’ services.
With the confirmation, the DA will now reach 38 per cent. Additionally, the chief minister also ensured that the remaining eight per cent hike in DA in some time. Taking to social media, Mann also shared the good news with the public, and the outcome of the meeting with the representatives of PSMSU today, 18 December, 2023.
Furthermore, Mann also pledged to take up the issue of restoring the old pension scheme with the union government and scheduled a meeting with the finance secretary for further discussion.
In an effort to address other concerns, Mann instructed officials to expedite timescale promotions for steno typists based on seniority. Additionally, he emphasised the need to fill vacancies in ministerial services across departments through promotions within two months.
To ensure ongoing dialogue and resolution of outstanding issues, the chief minister also announced the formation of a committee dedicated to addressing the pending demands of the employees. The developments marked a significant step towards reconciliation and collaboration between the government and the state government employees.