Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel declared on Monday that there will be no bargaining with government employees and officers if they want to be on strike. It is their will, and the government will do its work, he said.
More than four lakh employees and officers in Chhattisgarh are on indefinite strike from Monday demanding dearness allowance equivalent (DA) to central government employees. Due to the strike, work related to government offices were affected.
Interacting with the after his trip to Bhopal was cancelled, the Chief Minister said the state government had been taking pro-employee decisions.
Recently, DA was hiked by 6 percent, he said. Some organisations welcomed it while others are demanding a further hike. There will be no bargaining.
He said the Old Pension Scheme had been restored. The employees were also benefitting from half electricity bill scheme, ration and other policies. The working days have been cut to five days a week.
Still if they want to continue with their strike, the government will act accordingly, Baghel warned.
Meanwhile, 30,000 contract workers have announced a ‘satyagraha’ till August 25.
In a communication, the workers said the Congress government had promised that within 10 days of coming into power, all contract employees will be regularised. Even after more than three years, no initiative has been taken.
They said their wages have not been revised from 2019 and they are denied other benefits.
If their demands are not met, they will go on a day's mass leave on August 26.