Banking services across Goa were disrupt ed on Tuesday as bank employees under the ban ner of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) participated in a nation wide strike with a protest at Azad Maidan, here, de manding for the immedi ate implementation of a five-day work week in the sector. The protest caused sig nificant inconvenience to customers seeking routine transactions. Addressing the protes tors, UFBU Convenor San tosh Haldankar said the demand for a five-day work week has been pending for nearly a decade despite re peated assurances from the government and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
He recalled that under the 10th Bipar tite Settlement and 7th Joint Note signed in 2015, it was agreed that the second and fourth Saturdays of every month would be holidays, while the remaining Saturdays would be full working days instead of half days. “At that time, it was assured that the de mand to declare all Saturdays as holidays would be considered in due course. How ever, the issue has been kept pending,” Haldankar said. He further stated that in 2022, the gov ernment and the IBA agreed to discuss the proposal with UFBU to increase working hours on weekdays to facilitate a five-day work week. Following discussions in 2023, it was agreed that daily working hours from Monday to Friday would be increased by 40 minutes, and all remaining Saturdays would be declared holidays. “This proposal was duly recommended to the government, but it has been pending ap proval for the past two years,” he said, add ing that UFBU had called for a two-day na tionwide strike on March 24 and 25, 2025, which was deferred after assurances that the matter was under active consideration. “Despite repeated assurances, the government has failed to give approval,” Haldankar alleged. Speaking to reporters, Haldankar said, “This demand for five days working is dec ade old demand. UFBU has been making this demand for almost 12 years. Today in Goa, 451 bank branches are closed. All the employees are on strike.” Maxy Pereira, General Secretary, Goa Bank Employees Association, said, “It is not that we are against the customers or the government but we also require rest. We are human beings and not machines. Work ing from Monday to Friday itself is exhaust ing. There is a lot of stress.” The protest was supported by All In dia Bank Employees Association, All India Bank Officers Confederation, National Con federation of Bank Employees, All India Bank Officers Association, Bank Employees Federation of India, Indian National Bank Employees Federation, Indian National Bank Officers Congress, National Organisa tion of Bank Workers and National Organi sation of Bank Officers. Union representatives said the agitation aims to ensure a better work-life balance for bank employees and to bring uniform ity in working conditions across the bank ing sector
