Bank Employees Stage Rohtak Protest, Demand Immediate Implementation of Five-Day Work Week
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) organized a significant protest demonstration in Rohtak on Tuesday, vociferously demanding the immediate implementation of a five-day work week across the entire banking industry. This action was part of a coordinated nationwide strike that saw widespread participation from banking employees.
Nationwide Strike Disrupts Banking Operations
Employees from various public and private sector banks joined the agitation, raising powerful slogans and submitting a detailed memorandum to Rohtak Member of Parliament Deepender Hooda. They urgently requested him to champion their cause and raise the matter during parliamentary sessions to expedite a resolution.
UFBU state president Jitender Siwach confirmed that banking operations remained completely disrupted across the country throughout the strike duration. He reported that large-scale demonstrations were successfully organized at major banking centers nationwide, where employees participated in substantial numbers to collectively press for crucial demands.
Core Demands: Work-Life Balance and Fulfilled Commitments
The protesting bank employees are advocating for:
- Improved work-life balance through reduced working days
- More humane and reasonable working conditions
- Implementation of previously agreed-upon commitments between unions and management
Siwach emphasized that the specific demand for a five-day work week has been pending unresolved since 2015. "At that time, the government had made provisions for a two-day weekly holiday, but this commitment has regrettably not been implemented so far," he stated.
Decade-Long Delay Despite Political Promises
The union leader pointed out that despite the BJP government completing ten years in power, this longstanding demand of banking employees remains unfulfilled. He asserted that the five-day work week demand is both long overdue and fully justified given the nature of banking work and employee welfare considerations.
During the wage revision negotiations in March 2024, the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and the UFBU reportedly reached an in-principle understanding on this critical issue. However, Siwach alleged there has been an undue and unexplained delay in obtaining the necessary government approval and issuing a formal notification, which ultimately forced employees to resort to strike action.
Warning Strike and Future Action Plans
Siwach clarified that the current strike was intended to serve as a stern warning to the government regarding employee dissatisfaction. He revealed that a crucial national-level meeting of bank unions would be convened within the next fifteen days to determine the future course of action.
This meeting may decide on escalating measures, which could potentially include:
- A more extensive two-day nationwide strike
- Other intensified forms of protest and agitation
- Coordinated legal and political advocacy efforts
The banking sector employees' movement continues to gain momentum as they seek concrete action on their decade-old demand for a more balanced work schedule that aligns with modern workplace standards and employee well-being principles.
