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Bank Unions Call Nationwide Strike Jan 27 for 5-Day Work Week

Major bank employee unions in India have called a nationwide strike for January 27 to demand the implementation of a five-day work week. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has issued the strike notice, stating the proposal, already recommended by the Indian Banks' Association, awaits final government clearance. The unions argue the demand is longstanding, dating to 2015, and they have agreed to compensate with longer daily working hours. They cite a nine-month delay in progress as the reason for resuming agitation through the strike.

Key Points: Bank Strike Jan 27: Unions Demand 5-Day Work Week

  • Strike from Jan 26-27 midnight
  • Demand for all Saturdays as holidays
  • IBA has recommended the proposal
  • Unions agreed to longer daily hours
2 min read

Bank Unions call nationwide strike on Jan 27 over 5-day work week demand

Major bank unions announce a nationwide strike on January 27, 2025, demanding government approval for a five-day work week in the banking sector.

"This delay... has forced them to resume agitation. - United Forum of Bank Unions"

New Delhi, Jan 24

Major bank employee and officer unions in India have announced a nationwide strike on January 27 to press for the introduction of a five-day work week in the banking sector.

The strike will begin at midnight on January 26 and continue until midnight on January 27, potentially affecting banking services across the country, according to NDTV Profit report.

The strike notice has been issued by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), a joint platform representing nine bank unions.

The notice has been sent to the Indian Banks' Association (IBA), the Chief Labour Commissioner and the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

According to the unions, the main demand is government approval to declare all Saturdays as bank holidays, thereby introducing a five-day work week.

The UFBU said that the IBA has already recommended this proposal to the government. The recommendation is based on a memorandum of understanding signed between the IBA and UFBU on December 7, 2023, followed by a settlement and joint note issued on March 8, 2024.

However, the unions said the proposal is still awaiting final clearance from the government and banking regulators.

The unions explained that their demand for a five-day work week is not new.

It dates back to 2015, when banks started observing holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.

Since then, several rounds of discussions have taken place with the IBA, and broad agreements have been reached.

The unions have also agreed to extend daily working hours by about 40 minutes so that there is no reduction in total weekly working time.

Despite these discussions and assurances given during conciliation meetings, the unions said there has been no concrete progress for more than nine months. This delay, they said, has forced them to resume agitation.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
As a customer, I'm worried. A strike means my EMI might get delayed if I go to deposit cash on the 27th. While I support better work conditions, unions should also consider public inconvenience. Maybe digital banking will save the day! 💻
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Aman W
The delay since March 2024 is typical government bureaucracy. If an MoU was signed and IBA recommended it, what's the holdup? This affects the morale of lakhs of bank staff. Solidarity with the strike.
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Sarah B
Interesting to see this demand. In many countries, a 5-day week is standard. With India's push for a digital economy, maybe this is the right time. But extending daily hours could lead to burnout—quality over quantity should be the focus.
K
Karthik V
My father was a bank officer. I've seen the stress firsthand. Second and fourth Saturdays off were a good start, but a full 5-day week with slightly longer days is a balanced approach. Hope the strike leads to a solution. 🙏
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Nikhil C
While I understand the demand, a strike causing nationwide disruption feels like holding customers hostage. There must be a better way to negotiate. Also, what about rural areas where people depend entirely on physical banks?

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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