Mon Mar 24 07:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Five-Day Banking Week Gains Momentum: Government Considers Union Demand

**New Delhi:** The Indian government is seriously considering a long-standing demand from bank unions for a five-day work week, signaling a potential breakthrough after months of stalemate. This development follows a recent conciliation meeting between the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), chaired by the Chief Labour Commissioner.

A senior official from the Department of Financial Services (DFS) within the Finance Ministry indicated that the proposal, championed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is receiving high-level attention. This positive signal prompted the UFBU to defer a planned two-day strike.

C H Venkatachalam, General Secretary of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), expressed optimism, stating that the government understands the unions’ concerns and that a two-month trial period is likely. The five-day week was a key issue in the strike threat, alongside 12 other demands.

The Chief Labour Commissioner, K Shekar, assured the unions that the demand, already agreed upon in the 12th Bipartite Settlement/9th Joint Note, would be closely monitored with both the IBA and DFS. This commitment has renewed hope among bank employees who have long advocated for improved work-life balance.

The unions believe a five-day week, coupled with enhanced digital banking and adjusted operational hours, will improve employee well-being without compromising customer service. The IBA and DFS are now expected to further deliberate on the proposal, with a final decision anticipated soon.

In related news, the DFS reported that 14 nominations for vacant workmen/officer employee director posts in Public Sector Banks have been submitted for cabinet approval, with the remaining cases under review. These positions have been vacant for a decade, a matter also raised by the UFBU.

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