Banks May Remain Shut Today as Nationwide Strike Hits Public Sector Services

Bank unions go on strike to demand five-day work week; private banks likely to function normally

Banking services across many parts of India are expected to be disrupted today, January 27, after bank employee unions called for a nationwide strike. The strike has been announced to press for the long-pending demand of implementing a five-day work week in the banking sector.

The call for the strike was given by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body representing nine major bank unions that mainly cover public sector banks and a few old-generation private banks. The decision was announced on January 23, after discussions with authorities failed to reach a solution.

As a result, customers of public sector banks may face inconvenience in carrying out routine banking activities such as cash withdrawals, cheque clearances, branch visits, and other in-person services. Most public sector banks have already informed their customers about possible service disruptions if the strike takes place.

Banks that are likely to be affected include major government-owned institutions such as:

• State Bank of India (SBI)
• Punjab National Bank (PNB)
• Bank of Baroda
• Bank of India
• Other public sector banks

However, private sector banks like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and similar institutions are expected to function normally, as they are not part of the strike.

The main demand behind the strike is the implementation of a five-day working week for bank employees. At present, banks follow a system where employees get the second and fourth Saturdays off every month, along with Sundays. This means most weeks still remain six working days long.

The demand for a five-day work week is not new. It is based on an agreement that was reached between the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the UFBU during the wage revision settlement in March 2024. Under that settlement, both sides had agreed that all Saturdays would be declared holidays, effectively introducing a five-day work week. However, even after months have passed, the decision has not been implemented.

This delay has led to growing frustration among bank employees, who say that the agreement must now be honoured. The UFBU has repeatedly stated that a five-day work week will not reduce productivity. According to the unions, employees have already agreed to work an additional 40 minutes each day from Monday to Friday to compensate for the reduced working day.

Before announcing the strike, the UFBU had served a formal strike notice. Following this, the Chief Labour Commissioner held conciliation meetings on Wednesday and Thursday in an attempt to resolve the matter. However, the unions said the talks did not yield any positive result.

The UFBU said, “Despite detailed discussions, finally there was no positive outcome out of the conciliation proceedings.” After this, the unions confirmed that they would go ahead with the strike.

For customers, this means that services at public sector bank branches may be limited or unavailable today. Online banking, mobile banking, and ATM services may still work in many areas, but even these could face delays if backend operations are affected.

Bank customers have been advised to:

• Avoid visiting public sector bank branches today unless absolutely necessary
• Use digital banking services where possible
• Plan cash withdrawals and urgent transactions in advance

The strike highlights a growing push by bank employees for better work-life balance. Many other sectors, including government offices and corporate workplaces, already follow a five-day work system. Bank unions argue that banking staff should not be left behind, especially given the increasing workload and pressure on employees.

If the issue remains unresolved, unions have hinted that more intense protests could follow in the future.

Disclaimer: Banking operations and service availability may vary by location and individual bank branch. Customers are advised to check with their respective banks for real-time updates on services and branch functioning.