Centre never agreed to 5-day work week for banks: Government sources

Administration never agreed to 5-day work week for banks, facts being twisted: Official sources At present, bank branches are open on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of every month.

Key points

• The letter continued that office-holders from the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) had informed union representatives that the matter of five-days banking is "under consideration by the Government".
• At present, bank branches are open on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of every month.
• The five-day week was never agreed at the time of the last wage negotiations.

At present, bank branches are open on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of every month. (File Photo/Enhanced using photo).

Notably, the administration never agreed to a 5-day working week for banks, a finance ministry official has stated ahead of the three-day strike confirmed by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) from September 28 to 30 as this key demand has not been met.

"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, " the official remarked on the condition of anonymity.

In a letter dated September 22, the All India Bank Officers' Confederation remarked there had been no response to this demand "which was agreed and signed in March, 2024 under the last wage revision settlement". The letter continued that office-holders from the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) had informed union representatives that the matter of five-days banking is "under consideration by the Government".

In short, centre never agreed to 5-day work week for banks: Government sources is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.