3 hrs ago
Government Denies Ever Agreeing to Five-Day Bank Workweek
Bank unions want bank employees to work only five days each week.
They say this arrangement was agreed to in a wage settlement signed in March 2024.
A finance ministry official disagrees and says the government never made that agreement.
The official also says the unions are presenting the facts incorrectly.
The All India Bank Officers’ Confederation says the government has not responded to the demand.
The Indian Banks’ Association reportedly told union representatives that the issue was still being considered.
Because the demand was not met, the United Forum of Bank Unions announced a three-day strike.
Bank branches currently open on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of each month.
A finance ministry official said the government never agreed to a five-day working week for banks.
The United Forum of Bank Unions announced a three-day strike from September 28 to 30.
Bank unions say five-day banking was agreed and signed under the March 2024 wage revision settlement.
The All India Bank Officers’ Confederation said the demand had received no response.
Bank branches currently open on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays each month, according to the report.
- Who
- The United Forum of Bank Unions, the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation, the Indian Banks’ Association, and a finance ministry official.
- What
- A dispute over whether the government agreed to a five-day working week for banks, alongside an announced three-day strike.
- Where
- India’s banking sector.
- When
- The strike was announced for September 28 to 30; the union letter was dated September 22, and the cited wage settlement was signed in March 2024.
- Why
- Bank unions say the five-day schedule was agreed but not implemented, while the finance ministry official says no such agreement was made.
Bank Unions’ Position
Finance Ministry Official’s Position
Whether an agreement existed
Bank Unions’ Position
The All India Bank Officers’ Confederation says five-day banking was agreed and signed in March 2024 under the last wage revision settlement.
Finance Ministry Official’s Position
The finance ministry official says the government never agreed to a five-day working week during the last wage negotiations.
Status of the demand
Bank Unions’ Position
The unions say there has been no response and that the demand remains unmet, prompting the announced strike.
Finance Ministry Official’s Position
The official says five-day banking was never a negotiating tool and accuses the unions of twisting the facts.
Key facts
- Disputed demand
- A five-day working week for banks.
- Announced strike
- September 28 to 30, for three days.
- Union position
- Five-day banking was agreed and signed in March 2024 under the last wage revision settlement.
- Government position
- The government never agreed to the five-day week during the last wage negotiations.
- Current Saturday schedule
- Branches are open on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of each month.
- Issue status
- The Indian Banks’ Association reportedly said the matter was under consideration by the government.
Quotes
Finance ministry official
An unnamed finance ministry official commenting on the bank unions’ five-day-week demand.
“The five-day week was never agreed at the time of the last wage negotiations. It was never a negotiating tool. They (bank unions) are twisting the facts.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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