Bank Strike / Banking Services to be Hit as Employees Go on Strike Demanding Weekly Two-Day Off
·5 months ago·3 min read
Key Points
- Banking services across India may be disrupted on Tuesday due to a nationwide strike by bank employee unions demanding a five-day workweek.
- Nearly eight lakh employees under the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) are expected to participate; talks with the government failed.
- Strike will follow three consecutive non-working days (Saturday, Sunday, Republic Day), causing extended inconvenience for customers.
Mumbai, Jan 27: Public sector banking services across India are expected to be disrupted on Tuesday, January 27, following a nationwide strike call by bank employee unions demanding the implementation of a five-day workweek.
Why Bank Employees Are on Strike?
The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation representing bank employees and officers. The agitation centres on the demand for two weekly holidays, with unions seeking a five-day work schedule for banks.
Union leaders said the strike call was issued after talks with the Chief Labour Commissioner on January 23 failed to produce any positive outcome. If the strike goes ahead, customers are likely to face inconvenience as it would result in three consecutive days without banking services. Banks were already closed on Sunday due to the weekly holiday and on Monday for Republic Day.
According to union estimates, nearly eight lakh bank employees and officers are expected to participate in the agitation. The strike is expected to affect public sector banks and may also include private, foreign, rural and cooperative banks, as stated by the unions.
What Are the Demands?
Bank employees have been pressing for a five-day workweek for a long time. The proposal has been under consideration by the Indian Banks’ Association and the government for the past two years, but no final decision has been taken so far.
As part of the proposal, unions have agreed to extend daily working hours by 40 minutes from Monday to Friday in exchange for declaring all Saturdays as holidays. At present, banks remain closed on Sundays and on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.
Inconvenience for Customers
The end of January could see prolonged disruption in banking operations. January 24 falls on the fourth Saturday, followed by Sunday on January 25. January 26 is a public holiday on account of Republic Day, and January 27 has been declared the strike day by bank unions.
Also Read: Bhubaneswar Woman Loses Rs 30 Lakh in 'Digital Arrest' Cyber Fraud, Accused Held
Customers have been advised to plan their banking transactions accordingly to avoid inconvenience during the period of disruption.
Why Bank Employees Are on Strike?
The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation representing bank employees and officers. The agitation centres on the demand for two weekly holidays, with unions seeking a five-day work schedule for banks.
Union leaders said the strike call was issued after talks with the Chief Labour Commissioner on January 23 failed to produce any positive outcome. If the strike goes ahead, customers are likely to face inconvenience as it would result in three consecutive days without banking services. Banks were already closed on Sunday due to the weekly holiday and on Monday for Republic Day.
According to union estimates, nearly eight lakh bank employees and officers are expected to participate in the agitation. The strike is expected to affect public sector banks and may also include private, foreign, rural and cooperative banks, as stated by the unions.
What Are the Demands?
Bank employees have been pressing for a five-day workweek for a long time. The proposal has been under consideration by the Indian Banks’ Association and the government for the past two years, but no final decision has been taken so far.
As part of the proposal, unions have agreed to extend daily working hours by 40 minutes from Monday to Friday in exchange for declaring all Saturdays as holidays. At present, banks remain closed on Sundays and on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.
Inconvenience for Customers
The end of January could see prolonged disruption in banking operations. January 24 falls on the fourth Saturday, followed by Sunday on January 25. January 26 is a public holiday on account of Republic Day, and January 27 has been declared the strike day by bank unions.
Also Read: Bhubaneswar Woman Loses Rs 30 Lakh in 'Digital Arrest' Cyber Fraud, Accused Held
Customers have been advised to plan their banking transactions accordingly to avoid inconvenience during the period of disruption.
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