- DA hike will benefit around 8 lakh employees and pensioners.
- Two 4% instalments will be reflected in accounts from October.
- Employee unions have raised demands over DA arrears and pension-related issues.
- Mann announced monthly meetings with employee representatives to address grievances.
GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 19th Sept: The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has announced an 8 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for around 8 lakh government employees and pensioners, providing relief amid continuing demands over pending allowances, arrears and pension-related issues.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of prolonged demands from government employees and pensioners on issues including pending DA, arrears, allowances, pension matters, probationary-period salaries and implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
Government employees were an important constituency for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, when issues including restoration of the OPS featured prominently in the party’s campaign. The Mann government announced an in-principle decision to restore the OPS in October 2022 and subsequently notified the scheme in November that year.
Relations between the government and sections of the employee community have nevertheless remained contentious, with staff unions repeatedly raising concerns over unresolved demands. Protests involving employees, pensioners and scheme workers have also intensified in recent weeks.
Under the latest decision, the 8 per cent DA increase will be implemented through two 4 per cent instalments, with the revised amount reflected in employees’ and pensioners’ accounts from October.
The government has also announced measures aimed at addressing broader employee grievances. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said that compulsory monthly meetings will be held with employee representatives to discuss pending issues.
Among the demands expected to be examined are the 2.59 pension multiplication factor, matters related to the OPS, restoration of allowances and implementation of Assured Career Progression.
The DA announcement comes as the Punjab government seeks to address long-standing employee-related issues through both financial relief and a more structured engagement mechanism with employee representatives.
