Chandigarh :
The Punjab government has announced an 8 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for its employees, bringing an end to the month-long agitation by employee unions. The decision was announced after a 90-minute meeting between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and representatives of 12 employee unions on Friday.
AAP Punjab president Aman Arora said the enhanced DA would be paid with the September salary, due on October 1. The decision will benefit around four lakh employees and 3.5 lakh pensioners.
Arora said the decision was taken as a goodwill measure while related legal proceedings were pending and added that both sides had agreed to resolve the remaining issues through discussions.
Employee union leaders said the government had also assured them that demands related to the Old Pension Scheme, different pay structure
for employees recruited after July 17, 2020, and full salaries during the probation period would be examined on priority.
The employees had been protesting over pending DA dues and other service-related demands following an August 3 Punjab and Haryana High Court order concerning payment of DA arrears.
Arora said the next meeting with employee representatives would be held within a fortnight to discuss the remaining demands.
