Indian bank unions keep pressing for a five day workweek, but government and RBI have not approved it, banks still follow current Saturday holiday pattern.
The demand for a five-day workweek in banks continues to remain unresolved, with no official approval from the government yet. While bank unions have repeatedly pushed for the change, the current system of working remains unchanged.
As of now, banks across India still operate with holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays, along with Sundays. There has been no notification from the government or the Reserve Bank of India to shift to a full five-day schedule.
Demand Still Alive, But No Decision Yet
The proposal for a five-day workweek has been under discussion for quite some time. It was formally agreed upon between the Indian Banks’ Association and bank unions as part of wage settlement talks earlier, but it requires government clearance to be implemented.
Despite periodic protests and strike calls by the United Forum of Bank Unions, there has been no concrete progress on the policy front.
In recent months, unions have continued to raise the issue, but discussions have not translated into any final announcement or timeline.
Why Employees Want It
Bank unions argue that a five-day workweek would:
Bring banks in line with institutions like RBI and other financial bodies
Improve work-life balance
Help attract and retain talent
They have also proposed extending daily working hours slightly to compensate for fewer working days, ensuring there is no drop in total working time.
What It Means for Customers
For now, customers will see no change in banking operations.
Branch timings, working days, and services remain the same. While digital banking has reduced dependence on physical branches, any shift to a five-day schedule would still require careful planning—especially for rural and semi-urban areas.