SRINAGAR: Banks across the country, including Regional Rural Banks, will remain open on Sunday, September 27, to ensure uninterrupted banking services to customers ahead of a proposed three-day nationwide strike, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday.
The decision has been taken in view of the strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) from September 28 to 30.
The proposed strike comes at a crucial time as September 30 also marks the half-yearly closing of banks, when several financial and accounting operations are carried out.
According to the Finance Ministry, all Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will function normally on September 27.
The Reserve Bank of India has also approved the functioning of bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches and currency chests on the day to ensure that customers do not face prolonged disruption in banking services.
The UFBU, which claims to represent around 90 per cent of the banking workforce, has called the strike primarily to press for a five-day banking week, among other demands.
Bank employees are also seeking improvements in pension-related benefits, a uniform dearness allowance formula for all pensioners and an option for employees covered under the National Pension System to shift to the old pension scheme.
The government and bank managements have appealed to the unions to defer the proposed strike and have taken steps to minimise its impact on customers.
Several public sector banks have also advised customers to complete important transactions before the proposed strike and make use of digital banking facilities, including mobile and internet banking, ATMs, Business Correspondent (BC) points and UPI services.
The three-day strike, if held as scheduled, would follow the weekend holidays on September 26 and 27 and culminate on September 30, coinciding with the half-yearly closing of the banking sector.
Authorities have said the measures are aimed at ensuring that essential banking services remain available and customers do not face inconvenience during the extended period of disruption.
