Govt asks bank employees to call off strike, keeps PLI scheme in abeyance

Public sector banks and regional rural banks will function normally on September 27, a Sunday, ahead of a proposed three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to 30. The RBI has approved operations at branches, ATM-linked offices and currency chests

New Delhi: Public sector banks and regional rural banks (RRBs) will function normally on Sunday, September 27, to ensure that the banking needs of the public are not adversely affected by the proposed three-day nationwide strike by bank employees, the Finance Ministry said on Wednesday.

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called for a nationwide strike from September 28 to 30, which follows the weekend holidays on September 26 and 27.

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“In view of the proposed three-day nationwide bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) from September 28 to 30, coinciding with the preceding weekend holidays of September 26 and 27, the government has taken proactive steps to safeguard the banking needs of citizens,” the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the opening of all bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and currency chests on September 27.

The Finance Ministry said the welfare and convenience of bank customers remained the government’s foremost priority. The government and bank managements have appealed to the unions to defer the proposed strike and taken measures to ensure that essential banking services continue uninterrupted, it added.

Meanwhile, the government has appealed to employees of public sector banks and RRBs to call off the proposed strike, saying it had already fulfilled one of their main demands by keeping the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in abeyance.

The UFBU and certain other unions of public sector banks and RRBs have called for strikes in support of their demands for implementation of a five-day banking week and withdrawal of the PLI scheme.

Taking note of the concerns raised by the unions, the government, after detailed discussions, decided to keep the PLI scheme in abeyance. According to an earlier Finance Ministry statement, the move addressed one of the two main demands of the unions.

“Given that most concerns of the Unions have been substantially addressed, that the remaining demand continues to be examined, and that the Government continues to proactively introduce welfare measures for the banking workforce, bank employees are urged to refrain from resorting to strikes, work towards resolving issues through dialogue, and ensure that banking services remain uninterrupted,” the Finance Ministry said.