Agartala, January 27: Banking services in Agartala were severely affected on Tuesday following a nationwide one-day symbolic strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) along with its constituent organizations. As part of the nationwide protest, public sector banks across the city remained closed, causing inconvenience to hundreds of customers.
The strike was primarily held to press the long-pending demand for the implementation of a five-day workweek in the banking sector. While state-owned banks remained shut, private sector banks in Agartala were largely unaffected and continued normal operations.
The impact of the strike was felt more strongly as it followed a long holiday spell. Banks had already remained closed for four consecutive days due to Saraswati Puja on Friday, the fourth Saturday, Sunday, and Republic Day on Monday. The additional closure on Tuesday further compounded the problems of customers who were awaiting essential banking services.
Bank Employees Speak
Addressing the media in Agartala, bank employees said that the demand for a five-day banking week has been pending for nearly a decade. They stated that during wage negotiations in 2023, the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) accepted the proposal for a five-day workweek and recommended it to the Government of India. However, despite two years having passed, the proposal is yet to be implemented.
Employees also highlighted severe staff shortages in banks, particularly in Tripura. Several bank branches in the state are reportedly functioning with a single officer and minimal support staff, making it difficult to provide efficient services to customers.
“Our objective is not to inconvenience the public,” a bank employee said. “But the government’s continued delay in implementing the five-day workweek has forced us to take this step.”
Warning of Intensified Movement
Another union representative pointed out that institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), and general insurance companies have already been following a five-day workweek since 2023. He emphasized that only formal government approval remains pending for banks.
Union leaders expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to customers but held the central government responsible for the situation. They warned that if the demand for a five-day workweek is not implemented immediately, the United Forum of Bank Unions may launch a larger nationwide agitation in the coming days.
Debashis Pal, Secretary of the Tripura Progressive Bank Employees’ Association, said that recent meetings with the Central Labour Commission failed to provide any clear assurance, leaving bank employees with no alternative but to intensify their protest.
