Bankers again raise demand of 5-day week

Dharamshala: The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has cleared in January 2020   that while it is unable to accept the bank unions' demand of a 5-day work week, it has offered a 19% pay hike to employees. At present, banks have holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays every month and on every Sunday. This was the scenario pre-corona pandemic breakout, whereas now the virus threat is haunting the bankers, where they are highly exposed to the general public dealing and now a five-day week is the requirement of the hour and good help of the employees.
AIBEA (All India Bank Employees Association) said in a statement today that while whole world is carving for 4 Days Working, our country is still finding a way to opt for #5DaysBanking. It said that Bank Unions are demanding from more than a decade to get it but the same is yet to be agreed by bank management so far. It has been an undetectable demand in COD (Charter of Demands) in 11th Bi partite Settlements (BPS).
AIBOC started this petition to Ministry of Finance and said that keeping in view the scientific practices prevailing across the countries, the demand for Five days week was originally placed in the 10th BPS, when 2nd and 4th Saturdays were declared as holidays. At present, it has become a priority, which is likely to bring many positive effects, such as increased productivity, improved job satisfaction and morale, decreased absenteeism, reduced energy costs and work-life balance. Globally, the organizations work 5 days a week.
Taking here today, the president of largest banking organization AISBOF (All India State Bank Officers Federation), Deepak Sharma said, “Moreover, it will also be a positive step in the direction of Digital India in conformity with PM's vision. The working conditions in the Banks have been strenuous. Poor infrastructure, lack of adequate staff has made the officers work till late in the night, resulting in poor health, huge pressure on the officers, which culminates in serious work-leisure mismatches, life style diseases and of late, repeated acts of suicides being committed by the officers of the Banks.”
Sharma added further, “Officers are called upon to work on holidays and Sundays, frequently disrupting the personal life. On account of this, officers are being burnt-out, unable to justify themselves in their family.” He pleaded that Introduction of Five-Day Week will not only result in savings to the organization in terms of overheads and bring in a human element in the officers’ lives, but also would enable a meaningful social life – which in turn will result in higher efficiency in work place. 5 Days’ week will also rejuvenate many other commercial sectors/activities of the economy. A positive move in this regard would be hailed by one and all.