New Delhi: Leading bank employee and officer unions across India have called for a nationwide strike on January 27, demanding the implementation of a five-day work week in the banking sector.
According to a report by NDTV Profit, the strike will commence at midnight on January 26 and continue until midnight on January 27. During this period, banking services across the country are likely to be disrupted.
The strike has been organised by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), a joint platform of nine bank unions. The notice for the strike has been sent to the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), the Chief Labour Commissioner, and the Department of Financial Services under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
The primary demand of the unions is that the government declare all Saturdays as holidays for banks, thereby establishing a system of five working days and two holidays in the banking sector.
The UFBU stated that the Indian Banks’ Association had already submitted this proposal to the government. This recommendation is based on an agreement reached between IBA and UFBU on December 7, 2023, followed by a joint note issued on March 8, 2024.
However, the unions said the proposal is still awaiting final approval from the government and banking regulators.
The unions also clarified that the demand for a five-day work week is not new. It began in 2015 when banks started observing holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
Since then, several rounds of discussions have taken place with the IBA, resulting in agreements on various issues.
The unions have also agreed that if the five-day work week is implemented, they are willing to increase the daily working hours by approximately 40 minutes to ensure that the total weekly working hours remain unchanged.
Despite this, the unions claimed there has been no substantial progress in the last nine months. Due to the lack of a final decision despite repeated assurances during talks, the unions have resorted to calling a strike once again.
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My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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