Kolkata, January 23, 2026: The ‘United Forum of Bank Unions’ has called for a nationwide bank strike on January 27, 2026, demanding a five-day work week. Members of the United Forum of Bank Unions were present at a press conference held at Ajit Sen Bhavan in central Kolkata on the afternoon of January 22. Those present to address the press conference included convenor Sudip Dutta, General Secretary Shubhajoyti Chattopadhyay, Atanu Dasgupta, Pabitra Chattopadhyay, Indranil Mitra and others.
It was announced at a press conference that approximately 800,000 bank employees will go on strike on January 27, 2026, demanding a five-day work week, which will disrupt banking services across the country. Notably, government approval has been sought to implement a five-day work week in the banking industry and to declare the remaining Saturdays (currently, the 2nd and 4th Saturdays are holidays for banks) as holidays. This has been recommended based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between IBA and UFBU on 07-12-2023, as stated in the settlement/joint note dated 08-03-2024, and agreed upon by the Indian Banks’ Association.
The United Forum of Bank Unions has demanded the implementation of a five-day work week in the banking sector. In the tenth bilateral agreement/seventh joint note signed in 2015, the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the government agreed on this matter, and accordingly, the second and fourth Saturdays of every month are being declared as holidays. Other Saturdays are being treated as full working days instead of half-days. The United Forum of Bank Unions is seeking a change to this situation and remains steadfast in its demand for a five-day work week.
In 2022, the government and the Indian Banks Association agreed to hold discussions with the UFBU regarding increasing working hours so that the remaining Saturdays could be declared holidays. At that time, assurances were given that the union’s demand to declare the remaining Saturdays as holidays would be considered in due course. However, the matter has been left unresolved. However, in 2023, after discussions, it was decided that the daily working hours would be increased by 40 minutes from Monday to Friday, and the remaining Saturdays would be declared holidays.
This recommendation has been duly sent to the government, but unfortunately, it has been pending government approval for the past two years, according to the United Forum of Bank Unions. Having received no response from the government, the UFBU had called for a two-day strike on March 25, 2025. At that time, the government reportedly stated that the matter was under active consideration, and therefore the strike was suspended.
Despite this strong assurance, the government is not giving its approval. Therefore, the United Forum of Bank Unions has called for a nationwide bank strike on January 27, 2026, to draw the government’s attention through various protest programs.
