Karnal bank employees observe strike over 5-day week demand

Bank employees in Karnal district observed a one-day strike on Tuesday, demanding the implementation of a five-day working week. The strike was held on the call of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).

The employees gathered at Sector 12 in the city, raised slogans against the government and later took out a protest march.

They said their demand was not new and had already been approved by the Indian Banks’ Association, but was yet to be implemented by the government. The employees alleged that the delay was due to pressure from corporates.

As many as nine unions participated in the strike under the banner of UFBU. Manjeet Kumar, district convener of UFBU, Harish Kharbanda, vice-president of the All India Punjab National Bank Officers’ Association (AIPNBOA), and Anil Kumar, vice-president of the All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA), Haryana, among others, addressed the gathering.

Kharbanda said the demand for a five-day working week had been raised for the past two years. “We were assured that it would be implemented within 180 days in 2024, but despite repeated representations and reminders, no concrete steps have been taken. This prolonged delay has led to growing resentment among bank employees,” he said.

Manjeet Kumar warned that the agitation would be intensified if the demand was not met.

The employees questioned why banks across the world functioned for five days a week, while bank employees in India continued to work six days. They said the workload in the banking sector was increasing, while staff strength was declining, adversely affecting both the physical and mental health of employees, as well as customer service.

They clarified that they were willing to work an additional 40 minutes every day if a five-day week was implemented, stating that two weekly holidays would help employees remain mentally relaxed and enable them to provide better service to customers.