Bank Employees’ Unions Threaten Nationwide Strike on January 27 Over 5-Day Work Week Demand
Bank employees’ unions in India have warned of a nationwide strike on January 27, raising concerns about potential disruption to banking services across the country. The proposed strike is being called to press for the long-pending demand of implementing a five-day work week for banks.
The call for the strike has been issued by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body representing multiple bank employee and officer unions. According to the unions, the lack of response from the authorities on this issue has left them with no option but to resort to collective action.
Potential Impact on Banking Operations
If the strike goes ahead as planned, it is expected to significantly affect the functioning of public sector banks. The timing of the protest could worsen the impact, as January 25 and January 26 are already scheduled holidays. This would effectively lead to a disruption in banking services for three consecutive days, inconveniencing customers and businesses alike.
Currently, banks remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, in addition to Sundays. Although there was an understanding reached earlier to make all Saturdays non-working days, the implementation of this agreement has not yet materialised.
Background of the Five-Day Week Demand
During the wage revision settlement concluded in March 2024, the Indian Banks’ Association and the unions had agreed in principle to declare the remaining Saturdays as holidays. However, bank employees argue that despite this agreement, the transition to a full five-day work week has been delayed.
The unions have clarified that introducing a five-day schedule would not reduce productivity. In fact, they have agreed to extend daily working hours by 40 minutes from Monday to Friday to ensure there is no loss of overall working time.
Comparison With Other Institutions
UFBU has pointed out that several major financial and government institutions already follow a five-day work week. These include:
- Central banking and regulatory institutions
- Insurance companies
- Foreign exchange and money markets
- Stock exchanges
- Central and state government offices
Since these entities do not operate on Saturdays, the unions argue that banks remaining open on certain Saturdays creates operational inefficiencies rather than benefits.
Unions Intensify Campaign
To build public support, bank unions have also launched a social media outreach campaign under the hashtag #5DayBankingNow. According to union data, the campaign has generated over 18.8 lakh impressions and approximately 2.85 lakh posts on social media platforms.
The unions maintain that a structured five-day work week would improve employee well-being, align banking operations with other financial markets, and ultimately enhance customer service efficiency.
As discussions remain stalled, all eyes are now on whether last-minute negotiations can prevent the strike or if banking services will face widespread disruption at the end of January.
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