Srinagar, Jul 18 (IANS): Jammu and Kashmir government employees Monday went on strike, affecting work in most offices in summer capital Srinagar, and held rallies to press for their demands.

The employees have been demanding payment of arrears of their salaries enhanced on the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, raising the retirement age from the present 58 to 60, regular employment to daily wagers and ad hoc employees, and hike in emoluments for Anganwari workers.

Around 2,000 employees assembled outside the civil secretariat in Srinagar, where union leaders addressed them, to mount pressure on the government for acceptance of their demands.

Heavy security arrangements have been made around the civil secretariat to prevent the employees' march.

The civil secretariat houses the offices of the chief minister, his cabinet colleagues and all senior bureaucrats.

"Work continued as usual and the employees' strike has not affected the routine inside the civil secretariat," a senior officer told IANS.

There are over two lakh government employees in the state but it is not clear as yet how many went on strike.