E-Mail: unionbalu@yahoo.co.in, gsnube@gmail.com Phone : 044-28523392 / 28523561
Fax
: 044-28522969; Res: 044-23643456
NATIONAL UNION OF BANK EMPLOYEES
(Regd
No.3415 / CNI dated 29-07-2011)
Administrative
Office: 763, Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 002.
Shri.Dr.Gurdial Singh Sandhu Date
: 12-05-2014
Secretary, Department of Financial Services
Ministry of Finance
Dear Sir,
FIVE
DAYS WORKING IN A WEEK IN BANKS IN INDIA
REF:
OUR LETTER DATED 23-02-2012 & 08-12-2012
We had vide our letters
dated 23-02-2012 & 08-12-2012, requested the Government and IBA to consider
our demand for 5 day week in tune with global 5 days scenario as under:
Banks in India, are moving
towards the trends prevalent in the developed part of the world, where,
customers are encouraged to do their routine banking chores, through alternate
banking channels, like Net Banking, ATMs, Mobile Bankings, etc. and visiting
“brick and mortar” bank branches are discouraged, barring urgent situations and
compliance to this is achieved by imposing charges for transactions done at
bank branches, after few free transactions.
The unanimous view of the Central
Committee of our Union is that, in the light of the revolutionary changes that
have taken place as regards the technology initiative, such as tele-banking, internet banking, core banking, any time banking, anywhere
banking etc. and also the banking expansion through a large ATM net work, there
is a strong case for immediate consideration of the demand of the NUBE for
introduction of 5 day week by the Indian Banks’
Association. There are several strong grounds, apart from the
infrastructure now created by the Banking Industry which will not cause any
harm to the customers in case 5 day week is introduced in the Banking
Industry. The first and foremost reason is, the country will be saving a lot of
natural resources by way of reduction in the use of fuel by lakhs of
employees working in the Banking Industry, since they depend upon their own
personal vehicles to attend office. This will also reduce global warming to an
extent. Further, 5 day week will provide good health to
bank employees who are toiling without any rest for almost 14 to 16 hours a day
on account of increased workload and business growth. The reduction of 2
hours of business on Saturday does not affect customers as almost all Banks
have increased business hours by two hours per day from Monday to Friday.
At present all Central
government establishments, RBI, Forex Department,
Parliament, State Assemblies, Treasury, IT/BT industries and Western Countries
observe 5 day week. Majority of State government offices remain closed on
Second Saturday of the month. Therefore Banking Industry switching over to 5
day week will not make much difference to routine business. Introduction
of 5 day week has benefits as it will go a long way in further
strengthening our Banking Industry and delivering better results to the
people of the country.
With the introduction of
technology in the banking sector, basic Banking services are today available
24X7; RBI, Central Government, State Governments, Insurance Sector, Financial
Market, Stock Exchange, Foreign Exchange Markets, etc. are closed on Saturdays
and Sundays without causing any major inconvenience to general public at large.
With the increased need
for canvassing business, marketing, follow-up recovery, etc. one weekday off is
inadequate and there is genuine need to introduce 5 Day banking for the Banks.
The matter brooks no delay. In pursuance of the aforesaid logic we adduce the
following justifications and once again submit a memorandum of the five day
week charter, which was submitted by us earlier, which kindly consider
objectively.
The memorandum earlier
submitted by us enclosed herewith received wide coverage in many sites in the
internet, social media and leading news dailies and Bank employees are eagerly
awaiting a just response of our genuine, objective demand.
The following sites
have heralded the memorandum and uploaded the same in their sites in public domain acknowledging the initiative of NUBE:
- www.bankingonly.com/detail-news.php?news_id=4985
- http://mitalismusings.blogspot.in/2012/12/5-day-weeks-in-indian-banks-nisusgets.html
- http://www.allbankingsolutions.com/Wage-Revision/5-days-week/5-days-week-NUBE-detailed-note.pdf
- http://www.financialexpress.com/news/bank-employees-push-for-5day-week-write-to-govt/1044399
- http://paycommissionupdate.blogspot.in/2012/12/bankers-demand-5-days-week-nube.html
- http://90paisa.blogspot.in/2012/12/bankers-demand-5-days-week-nube.html
- http://importantbankingnews.blogspot.in/2012/12/awareness-about-demand-of-5-days-week.html
- http://www.govtempdiary.com/2012/12/5-days-week-in-bank/
- http://centralgovernmentstaffnews.blogspot.in/2012/12/bankers-demand-5-days-week-nube.html
- http://satish24k.blogspot.in/2012/12/bankers-demand-5-days-week-nube.html
- http://banknewskumar.blogspot.in/2012/12/why-5-days-week-must-in-banking-sector.html
- http://uyo.me/post/Day-to-Day_Banking
- http://bestsearching.com/index.cfm?category=Web&find=Five%20Day%20Week%20Banks%2001%2006%202012
- http://www.scribd.com/doc/116183697/5-Days-Week-in-Bank
- http://www.centralgovernmentnews.com/bankers-demand-5-days-week-nube-submitted-memorandum/
- http://centralgovernmentstaffnews.blogspot.in/2012/12/bankers-demand-5-days-week-nube.html
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Indian-Overseas-BANK-Employees/145436728933607
- http://www.paycommissionupdate.blogspot.in/2012/12/bankers-demand-5-days-week-nube.html
- https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_xbR7CgIQiNZE5ILTd3YmZ3STQ/edit?pli=1
- http://bankingonly.com/news/5-day-week-demanded-by-national-union-of-bank-employees-with-133-pages-justifications_4985.html
- http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/banking/bank-unions-demand-5day-week/article5411162.ece
Even as early as September 16, 2003, There was a
press news titled 5 day week for banks on the card wherein the then
IBA Chief Executive Sri.H.N.Sinor said "With
most markets closed on Saturdays, it does not make sense to keep Banks open.
Banks can work five days a week but for longer hours." The apex bankers'
body will hold discussions with various trade bodies on this issue and approach
state governments to cut the number of bank holidays recognised under the
Negotiable Instruments Act. Under the proposal, Banks across the country will
remain closed only on three days a year – January 26, August 15 and October 2. “Banks
are now closed on Diwali, Id and all other religious festivals. We want to
convert these holidays into sectional holidays, Sinor pointed out. This
essentially means that employees belonging to a particular community will be
able to take leave on those days but banks will remain open.
IBA will discuss
the proposal with the Confederation of Indian Industry, Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce and Industry and other business associations, which have
been demanding abolition of frequent bank holidays. If they have no problem with the proposal, the
bankers' body will take it up with the finance ministry as well as the state governments.
With most banks working 24 hours a day through ATMs and other channels, a
five-day week may not face much resistance from the public. Banks will, however, continue to have the
freedom to keep some of their branches open on Saturdays and even on Sundays,
depending on local needs.” (http://www.rediff.com/money/2003/sep/16banks.htm).
We understand from the
media that your department/ IBA is favourably inclined to evaluate the demand
after objective analysis as appearing in Business Standard, 21st April,
2014 and in The Hindu Business Line dated 18th April, 2014.
(see:http://www.business-standard.com/article/finance/call-for-5-day-week-for-state-banks
resurfaces-114042100053_1.html & http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/public-sector-bankers-plan-to-ask-finance-ministry-for-5day
week/article 5926262.ece)
We look forward to an early
resolution of this long pending demand as per global traditions and/or as being
implemented in other establishment of Government.
We underscore once again
the following positive benefits of a 5 days week culture:
Ø
Reduced fuel costs
Ø
Increased productivity
Ø
Reduced personnel turnover
Ø
Improved work-life balance
Ø Reduced
traffic congestion
|
Ø
Decreased absenteeism
Ø
Improved job satisfaction and morale
Ø
Reduced energy costs
Ø
Less Disability Claims. As stress falls, so might disability claims
Ø Savings
in Bank and Nations exchequer
|
Our Memorandum :
In the light of aforesaid facts, we are hopeful that our justifications in
the enclosed booklet memorandum submitted by us earlier as mentioned above would
be viewed with fresh perspective in the larger interest of the country enclosed
to this letter.
Awaiting your favorable
response.
Thanking you, Yours faithfully,
Encl : Our Memorandum Booklet –on 5 Day week in Banks
(L.BALASUBRAMANIAN)
Cc to : The Chairman,
Indian Banks’ Association, Mumbai. GENERAL SECRETARY
Sri.M.V.Tanksale, Chief
Executive, Indian Banks’ Association, Mumbai.
Sri.K.Unnikrishnan, Deputy Chief Executive, Indian Banks’ Association,
Mumbai.
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