Banks To Operate On Sunday Before Nationwide Staff Walkout

Public sector banks and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) will provide normal services on Sunday, September 27, after the government directed them to remain open to meet customers’ genuine banking requirements.

The Reserve Bank of India has authorised all branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and currency chests to operate throughout the day.

The move precedes a three-day nationwide strike called by bank employees for September 28–30. Since September 26 and 27 fall on weekend holidays, the action could otherwise have halted regular banking services for five days in a row.

The Finance Ministry said the government had acted in advance to protect public access to banking facilities. It added that customer welfare and convenience remained its primary concern.

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) and some other unions representing public sector banks and RRBs have announced the strike to demand a five-day working week and the withdrawal of the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

At present, bank staff receive two Saturdays off every month. The unions are seeking holidays on the other two Saturdays as well.

The ministry said the government and bank managements had asked unions to postpone the proposed action and were working to maintain essential services.

It also appealed to public sector bank and RRB employees to cancel the strike, pointing out that the government had placed the PLI scheme in abeyance following detailed discussions.

This step addressed one of the unions’ two main demands.

The ministry said officials were still examining the outstanding issue and encouraged employees to pursue discussions instead of striking.

It called on bank staff to keep services running while the government continued its efforts to introduce welfare measures for the banking workforce.

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