“No work, no pay”: Punjab education secretary warns protesting teachers

With multiple teacher unions protesting in Punjab, the state education secretary on Monday issued an order stating that the “rule of no work, no pay” will be strictly enforced for teachers participating in agitations. The directive emphasised that students’ education was being adversely affected due to teachers protesting without taking prior leave.

In a written order, Punjab school education secretary Kamal Kishore Yadav said: “It has come to the notice of the undersigned that the employees of the Education Department are not performing their duties and leaving their places of duty on the pretext of participating in agitations… This has led to a situation in which students’ studies are suffering, and the normal functioning of schools is being hampered.”

The order further warned: “It is hereby directed that employees who are not performing their duties without having their leaves sanctioned will not be paid for the days of their unauthorised absence. The rule of ‘No Work, No Pay’ shall be strictly imposed. Respective controlling authorities and DDOs must ensure compliance; otherwise, they will be held responsible for causing a loss to the state exchequer.”

The directive is seen as a strong response to recent protests by teacher unions over various demands, including regularisation of jobs and pay scale revisions.