TNI Bureau: Public sector bank employees across the country went on a nationwide strike today under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), demanding the implementation of a five-day workweek.

The strike comes after a series of bank holidays that continued till yesterday, and has now further disrupted banking services. Branches of major public sector banks including SBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank and Indian Bank remained closed. Services such as cash deposits, cheque clearances and branch-based transactions are expected to be affected.

Bank employees are seeking two weekly holidays — Saturday and Sunday — instead of the current system where only the second and fourth Saturdays are off, along with Sundays. Although an agreement on a five-day workweek was reached between the government and bank unions in 2024, a formal government notification is yet to be issued.

Following months of no response from the Centre, the unions have intensified their agitation. However, digital banking services such as UPI, internet banking and ATM services are continuing as usual. Private sector banks remain open.