Jammu, Oct 16 (JKNS): A delegation of State Bank of India Officers’ Association (SBIOA) Jammu Module on Friday called upon Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Sh. Jugal Kishore Sharma, at their Jammu residence.
The delegation sought their intervention in a matter that has awaited a decision for long: the introduction of Five-Day week for Bank employees by declaring the remaining Saturdays as bank holidays which affects 20 lakh bank employees across the country, and their families.
Rajesh Mehta Deputy General Secretary SBIOA Jammu Module informed that their request is for a modern and sustainable work pattern in banking, with safeguards for uninterrupted essential banking access, suitably adjusted weekday business hours, and the welfare of those who deliver banking services.
Regular rest and time with family are essential to Bankers health, sound judgement, careful risk management and the quality of service the public receives. Remaining two Saturdays as holidays can be introduced through a carefully planned transition. Bank unions have already agreed to work for additional time on each weekday, so that there is no loss of working hours. Digital channels such as UPI, internet and mobile banking and ATMs will continue without interruption, and suitable arrangements can be made for elderly, rural and digitally excluded customers, supported by advance public communication and adequate staffing.
The Reserve Bank of India, LIC, Central Government offices, many state government offices, courts, SEBI and many other institutions already follow a five-day week, and the money, foreign-exchange and stock markets do not function on Saturdays. The interests of the public and of bank employees can be served together; they need not be treated as competing demands.
In reply to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1187 on 10 February 2026, the Ministry of Finance informed the House that the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), representing all Bank Managements, had submitted a proposal on 12 July 2023 to declare all Saturdays as banking holidays. The 12th Bipartite Settlement and 9th Joint Note, signed on 8 March 2024, also record that IBA had recommended this measure, and that the consequential changes in working hours would take effect after Government approval and the necessary clearances. The matter thus has a documented history in negotiation and in administration.
Following the industrial-relations discussions of 27 September 2026, a high-level committee of IBA and the bank unions was constituted to deliberate on five-Day Banking. It held its first meeting on 1 October 2026. We sincerely welcome this dialogue. However, the constitution of a committee Is not yet a decision of the Government and no definite date for implementation has been communicated In the material available to us. A transparent, timebound roadmap is now needed to bring this long-pending issue to a conclusion.
It was requested to kindly take up the matter with the Hon’ble Union Finance Minister and the Department of Financial Services, and seek an early and reasoned decision on the IBA proposal, raise the matter in Parliament through a Question, a Zero Hour submission or a Special Mention seeking the present status of the proposal of 12 July 2023 and a definite date for the Government notification. (JKNS)