Punjab Pay Scales, Old Pension & Allowances Restoration Front Holds Press Conference

Punjab Pay Scales, Old Pension & Allowances Restoration Front Holds Press Conference

Stop Dividing Employees in the Name of DA; Restore Punjab Pay Scales for All

17 July 2020 Notification Must Be Withdrawn and Punjab Pay Scales Restored for Employees Recruited Thereafter:  Front

Struggle to Continue Until Restoration of Old Pension, Pending DA, Allowances and Other Legitimate Employee Rights

Chandigarh 6 September ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : The Punjab Pay Scales, Old Pension and Allowances Restoration Front today launched a sharp attack on the Punjab Government over its handling of employees’ long-pending demands, accusing it of attempting to divide employees in the name of Dearness Allowance (DA) instead of resolving the fundamental issues of pay scales, pension and allowances. Addressing a joint press conference, Front leaders Gurdeep Singh Bassi, Vikram Dev Singh, Shalinder Kamboj, Sandeep Singh Gill, Surinder Pal Singh, Manpreet Singh, Ramandeep Singla, Balihar Balli, Kuldeep Rupnagar, Mahinder Korianwali, Sumit Kamboj and Lakhveer Thulliwal said the government’s latest DA proposal could not be accepted as a substitute for the genuine demands of Punjab’s employees. The leaders categorically rejected the government’s claims that Punjab employees are drawing disproportionately high salaries. They said the government’s narrative was factually misleading and contradicted by the actual salary figures of employees across different cadres. They also questioned the attempt by the present government to undermine the pay scales historically granted to Punjab employees through the state’s six Pay Commissions, saying these scales were evolved over decades in accordance with Punjab’s specific socio-economic conditions and the federal structure of the country.

Massive Pay Disparity After July 17, 2020

The Front highlighted the “huge and unjustified gap” between employees recruited after July 17, 2020 and those appointed before that date.

According to the figures presented by the Front: - Punjab Clerks recruited after July 17, 2020 are being paid a basic pay of ₹19,900, compared with ₹29,200 under the corresponding Central Government scale and ₹33,300 for employees recruited in Punjab before July 17, 2020. - After the probationary period, a Punjab Clerk recruited under the post-July 2020 conditions faces a salary disadvantage of approximately ₹18,462. - Police Constables recruited under the new arrangement receive ₹19,900 during probation, resulting in a reported salary gap of ₹6,462. - Assistant Linemen are also appointed at ₹19,900 during probation and, according to the Front, receive approximately ₹12,542 less thereafter. - MPHW Workers face a reported salary difference of approximately ₹15,176. - ETT Teachers receive a basic pay of ₹29,200, against ₹35,400 under the corresponding Central scale, with the Front claiming an overall post-probation difference of approximately ₹15,176. - Master Cadre Teachers face a reported salary disadvantage of approximately ₹21,572.The Front stressed that even after adding 60% DA, the salaries of these employees remain substantially lower than those of corresponding Central Government employees and employees recruited in Punjab before July 2020. “This is not a question of giving employees an additional benefit; it is a question of restoring an equitable and uniform pay structure,” the leaders said. They demanded that the government withdraw the notification dated July 17, 2020 and immediately implement Punjab pay scales for employees recruited thereafter, instead of creating further divisions among employees. 

On the issue of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), the Front accused the Punjab Government of failing to fulfil its commitment to employees. The leaders pointed out that the government issued a notification on November 18, 2022, but alleged that the necessary Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for its effective implementation has still not been made public. As a result, they said, employees retiring under the National Pension System (NPS) continue to face uncertainty and may be left with inadequate pensionary benefits after decades of service. The Front demanded that the Old Pension Scheme be implemented in letter and spirit without further delay, rather than being confined to an incomplete notification.

The leaders also raised the issue of employees working on temporary, contractual and society-based arrangements in the Education Department. They specifically highlighted Computer Teachers working under PICTES, Special Cadre contractual teachers, teachers of Meritorious Schools, NSQF employees and other contractual/temporary employees, demanding their regularisation with full pay scales and service benefits. The Front further criticised the government for continuing to pay meagre honorariums to thousands of Mid-Day Meal Workers, ASHA Workers and Anganwadi Workers, describing this as a form of financial exploitation of workers performing essential public services. The leaders said these realities completely expose the government’s claim that Punjab employees are being paid “excessively high” salaries.

The Front reiterated that its struggle would continue until the government:

1. Withdraws the July 17, 2020 notification and restores Punjab pay scales for employees recruited thereafter.

2. Implements the Old Pension Scheme in full.

3. Releases the pending 18% DA.

4. Restores all allowances withdrawn from employees.

5. Withdraws the January 15, 2015 notification.

6. Regularises contractual, temporary and other eligible employees with full pay scales.

7. Ensures equal DA, equal pay scales and equal pension rights for all Punjab Government employees, without discrimination on the basis of date of recruitment.

The Punjab Pay Scales, Old Pension and Allowances Restoration Front also announced its unconditional and active support for all struggle programmes announced by the Joint Coordination Committee of employees and pensioners. The Front declared that its activists and members would participate in these programmes in large numbers, including the proposed gherao of ministers and other joint protest actions. The leaders concluded that the government should stop attempting to divide employees into “old” and “new” categories and instead address the fundamental issue of equal and dignified service conditions. “Punjab Government must ensure equal DA, Punjab pay scales and Old Pension for every employee. Employees will not accept division in the name of DA or empty assurances in the name of reform.”