Public sector and regional rural banks across India will operate on Sunday, September 27, as the government aims to mitigate disruptions from an impending three-day strike over working conditions and retirement benefits.
Public sector banks and regional rural banks across India will stay open on Sunday, September 27, after the finance ministry moved to cushion customers from a proposed three-day strike that is due to begin the following day. According to the ministry, the Reserve Bank of India has approved full operations at bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and currency chests for that Sunday so that ordinary banking activity is not interrupted for an extended period.
The precaution is aimed at limiting disruption from the United Forum of Bank Unions’ call for a nationwide walkout from September 28 to 30. Because the strike would come immediately after the weekend holidays on September 26 and 27, officials say the effect could otherwise stretch to five straight days of reduced service. The government has said protecting customers’ access to banking remains its top priority and has asked union leaders to postpone the stoppage.
The strike threat is tied to a broader dispute over working conditions and retirement benefits. The United Forum of Bank Unions says it is pressing for a five-day banking week, along with changes to pension arrangements, a uniform dearness allowance formula for retired staff and an option for workers covered by the National Pension System to move back to the older pension scheme. Moneycontrol reported that a conciliation meeting with the Indian Banks’ Association and the Department of Financial Services on September 22 produced no meaningful breakthrough, leaving the unions determined to proceed.
Banks have already begun warning customers to finish essential transactions in advance and to lean on digital channels if services are affected. State Bank of India and other lenders have urged account holders to use mobile banking, internet banking, ATMs, business correspondent points and UPI where possible. The timing is particularly sensitive because the strike period overlaps with the half-yearly closing on September 30, when banks handle reconciliation, provisioning and treasury work that can be difficult to defer.
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