KATHMANDU: State-owned banking services in India have been affected since Friday after the United Forum of Bank Unions called for a nationwide strike demanding immediate implementation of the five-day working system and resolving the remaining wage issues.
The strike, called by an umbrella organisation of seven unions representing 90 per cent of the officers and employees of state-owned banks, did not have any impact on the functioning of private sector banks. Most of the branches of public sector banks across the country remained completely or partially closed as both employees and officers participated in the strike.
Nearly 7,000 branches in Madhya Pradesh remained closed on Friday due to a nationwide bank strike demanding a five-day work-a-week system, performance-based remuneration and other outstanding issues, affecting daily transactions worth Rs 5,500 crore, the Bank Employees Association said.
In India, the impact of the strike, which started on Friday, will have to be borne by the general public for five consecutive days due to the public holiday. In some states, banking services will also be closed on Monday and Tuesday due to Ganesh Chaturthi.
The unions have threatened to shut down banking services from September 28 to 30 and go on an indefinite strike from October 26 if the central government does not meet their demands.
