Bank employees across India are set to hold a nationwide strike on Friday to demand several key reforms, including the implementation of a five-day work week. The protest, organized by a coalition of seven unions including the All India Bank Employees' Association, is expected to involve approximately 800,000 staff members and officers nationwide.
A primary demand is the declaration of all Saturdays as holidays. Union leaders stated that although the Indian Banks' Association agreed to this provision in an agreement signed in March 2024, the Union Ministry of Finance has yet to grant its approval. Additional demands include the restoration of the old pension scheme for new recruits and a requirement for banks to cover medical insurance premiums for retirees.
In Tamil Nadu alone, an estimated 60,000 employees are expected to participate in the industrial action. The strike is likely to disrupt banking services across the country.
