Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Public sector banking services across the country & Goa were disrupted today as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) called for an All India Bank Strike, pressing for immediate government approval to implement a five-day workweek in the banking sector.
The UFBU, an umbrella body representing nine major bank employees’ and officers’ unions, said the strike was forced upon bank staff after repeated assurances by the government failed to translate into action.
According to the unions, an agreement had already been reached to increase daily working hours from Monday to Friday, allowing the remaining Saturdays to be declared holidays, but the proposal has been pending government approval for nearly two years.
In a press release, the UFBU stated that discussions on the issue began in 2022 with the government and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). In 2023, it was agreed that weekday working hours would be extended by 40 minutes to compensate for declaring all Saturdays as holidays. Despite formal recommendations and written understandings, the proposal remains unapproved.
The unions pointed out that similar five-day workweek systems are already in place across key financial institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, LIC and GIC, as well as in Central and State government offices. Stock exchanges and money markets also function only from Monday to Friday, strengthening the unions’ argument that banks are being unfairly excluded.
UFBU leaders said bank employees feel discriminated against, especially when alternative digital banking channels are widely available and customers would not face major inconvenience. They added that false assurances earlier led to the postponement of a proposed strike in March 2025, but continued inaction compelled unions to revive the agitation.
The UFBU has demanded immediate government approval for the five-day workweek as per agreements signed with the IBA, warning that continued delays could lead to further industrial action. Meanwhile, bank customers were advised to expect disruptions in branch-level services during the strike.
