Breaking: Employees reject 60 % DA announcement, demand Punjab pay scales for post-July recruits
Democratic Employees Federation says 60% DA alone is not enough; seeks fulfilment of AAP’s 2022 election promise
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, September 4, 2026: The Democratic Employees Federation (DMF) has rejected the Punjab government’s announced increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) to 60% for employees recruited after July 17, 2020, calling it inadequate and alleging that the government has failed to honour its commitment to provide these employees Punjab pay scales.
DMF state president Jarmanjeet Singh accused the government of adopting “anti-employee” policies and attempting to divide employees into different categories. He said the employees’ movement in Punjab would not accept any such move.
Speaking to the media, Singh said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), before the 2022 Assembly elections, had promised that after coming to power, it would withdraw the salary scales linked to the Central government pattern for employees recruited after July 17, 2020, and bring them under the old Punjab pay scales.
According to Singh, these employees are currently being paid basic salaries according to the Central government pattern, while they have been demanding that the Punjab pay scales be restored. He claimed that the existing basic-pay structure has caused financial losses to the affected employees.
He said the employees’ demand is for basic pay according to Punjab pay scales, followed by the corresponding DA and other financial benefits.
‘60% DA does not resolve the core issue’
Questioning the government’s decision to increase DA to 60% for the post-July 17, 2020 recruits, Singh said the move could not be considered complete relief for employees.
He stressed that the employees’ struggle was not limited to DA and that implementation of the Punjab pay scales remained a key demand.
Singh also alleged discrimination in the matter of DA, questioning why employees in Punjab should not receive benefits on the same pattern as other categories of public officials.
He asked why IAS, IPS and IFS officers, High Court judges, MLAs, ministers, the Chief Minister and others in higher positions could receive benefits according to the Central pattern, while ordinary government employees were allegedly being denied similar benefits.
Demand for restoration of Old Pension Scheme
The DMF leader also reiterated the demand for restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
Singh said the Punjab government had promised to implement the Old Pension Scheme, but its continued silence on the issue was a matter of concern. He maintained that the demands relating to pay scales, DA and pension were interconnected and should not be treated as separate issues.
He said employees from different categories, including Class IV, Class III and Class II staff, were an essential part of the functioning of the government and deserved equal treatment in matters of salary and allowances.
Employees to continue joint struggle
Singh said both old and new employees in Punjab were opposing government policies under the leadership of the Joint Coordination Committee.
He said employees recruited after July 17, 2020, were also pursuing their demands separately while simultaneously joining the broader movement for common demands of Punjab government employees.
“The government’s attempt to divide employees will not succeed,” Singh said.
He demanded that the Punjab government fulfil its commitment to employees recruited after July 17, 2020, restore the old Punjab pay scales, provide the DA and other financial benefits due to them, and take immediate steps towards restoring the Old Pension Scheme.