JAMMU, Oct 16: A delegation of the State Bank of India Officers’ Association (SBIOA), Jammu Module, on Friday called upon Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Jugal Kishore Sharma at his Jammu residence and sought his intervention for the early implementation of a five-day banking week across the country.
The delegation urged the MP to take up the long-pending demand for declaring all Saturdays as bank holidays, a move that would benefit nearly 20 lakh bank employees and their families across India.
Rajesh Mehta, Deputy General Secretary, SBIOA Jammu Module, apprised the MP of the demand, emphasising the need for a modern, sustainable and employee-friendly work pattern without compromising public banking services. He said the proposal envisages suitably adjusted weekday working hours to ensure that the total working hours remain unaffected while providing employees with adequate rest and time for their families.
The delegation maintained that regular rest and work-life balance are essential for employees’ health, sound decision-making, effective risk management and improved customer service. It also highlighted that digital banking facilities, including UPI, internet banking, mobile banking and ATMs, would continue to function uninterrupted on Saturdays. Appropriate arrangements could also be made to assist elderly customers, rural residents and people with limited access to digital banking through advance public communication and adequate staffing.
The delegation pointed out that several institutions, including the Reserve Bank of India, LIC, central government offices, many state government offices, courts and SEBI, follow a five-day working week. It also noted that money, foreign-exchange and stock markets remain closed on Saturdays.
Referring to the matter’s administrative history, the delegation stated that the Ministry of Finance, in its reply to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1187 on February 10, 2026, informed the House that the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) had submitted a proposal on July 12, 2023, for declaring all Saturdays as banking holidays.
The 12th Bipartite Settlement and 9th Joint Note, signed on March 8, 2024, also recorded the IBA’s recommendation, with the consequential changes in working hours to take effect after government approval and the necessary clearances.
The delegation welcomed the constitution of a high-level committee comprising representatives of the IBA and bank unions following industrial-relations discussions held on September 27, 2026. The committee reportedly held its first meeting on October 1, 2026. However, it stressed that the formation of the committee had not yet resulted in a final government decision or a definite implementation date.
The SBIOA delegation requested Jugal Kishore Sharma to take up the issue with the Union Finance Minister and the Department of Financial Services, seeking an early and reasoned decision on the pending proposal. It also urged him to raise the matter in Parliament through a question, Zero Hour submission or Special Mention to ascertain the proposal’s current status and seek a definite timeline for the government notification.
The delegation expressed hope that timely intervention by the MP would help resolve the long-pending issue and pave the way for a balanced banking system that safeguards employees’ welfare while ensuring uninterrupted and efficient services for customers.