Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 30: Demanding the implementation of a five-day work week, the bank employees under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) staged demonstrations in front of bank offices across Jammu, Srinagar and Leh, today.
In a press statement issued by Rajesh Mehta, Secretary, the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC) said, the protest was part of a nationwide agitation highlighting the increasing work pressure and stress faced by bank employees and officers.
Union leaders stated that the demand for a five-day work week has been pending for a long time and is well known to the government.
They pointed out that during the 10th Bipartite Settlement and 7th Joint Note signed in 2015, it was agreed that the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month would be holidays, while the remaining Saturdays would be full working days.
However, UFBU has consistently demanded the introduction of five working days per week to address excessive workload and employee well-being.
Union leaders said that the proposed changes in working hours would become effective only after approval from the Government of India and necessary clearances from the Reserve Bank of India.
They expressed concern that despite the issue being under consideration for nearly two years, no final decision has been taken so far.
Highlighting the ground reality, the union stated that due to staff shortages and rising operational demands, bank employees, officers and managers are working under extreme physical and mental stress.
The Central Government, they added, is fully aware of these challenges.
Speaking on the occasion, Arun Kumar Gupta, General Secretary, Jammu Province Bank Employees Federation (JPBEF) highlighted various demands of Bank Unions and emphasized that the Government must fulfill its promise of implementation of 5 days banking and stop its steps towards privatization of banks.
The UFBU reiterated that declaring the remaining Saturdays as holidays and implementing a five-day work week is a reasonable and justified demand in the interest of employees and the banking sector as a whole.
Among others who participated in the protest included Tara Singh, Aroor Bhanu Khajuria, Harminder Singh, M H Haidary, Avtar Singh, Amit Verma and Parshotam Kumar.
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