Onlykashmir.in News Desk
A delegation of the State Bank of India Officers’ Association, Jammu Module, today called on Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Jugal Kishore Sharma at his Jammu residence. It sought his intervention for the early introduction of a five-day banking week, a matter the association says has awaited a decision for a long time.
The delegation asked for the remaining Saturdays to be declared bank holidays, a change that would affect around 20 lakh bank employees across the country and their families. Rajesh Mehta, Deputy General Secretary of the SBIOA Jammu Module, said the request is for a modern and sustainable work pattern in banking. It comes with safeguards for uninterrupted essential banking access, suitably adjusted weekday business hours and the welfare of those who deliver banking services.
The association argued that regular rest and time with family are essential to bankers’ health, sound judgement, careful risk management and the quality of service the public receives. It said the remaining two Saturdays could be made holidays through a carefully planned transition. Bank unions have already agreed to work additional time on each weekday, so there would be no loss of working hours. Digital channels such as UPI, internet banking, mobile banking and ATMs would continue without interruption, and arrangements could be made for elderly, rural and digitally excluded customers, backed by advance public communication and adequate staffing.
The delegation pointed out that the Reserve Bank of India, LIC, Central Government offices, many state government offices, courts and SEBI already follow a five-day week, and that the money, foreign-exchange and stock markets do not function on Saturdays. In its view, the interests of the public and of bank employees can be served together and need not be treated as competing demands.
It also traced the documented history of the proposal. In reply to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1187 on February 10, 2026, the Ministry of Finance said the Indian Banks’ Association had submitted a proposal on July 12, 2023 to declare all Saturdays as banking holidays. The 12th Bipartite Settlement and 9th Joint Note, signed on March 8, 2024, also record the recommendation, with working-hour changes to follow after Government approval and clearances.
After industrial-relations discussions on September 27, 2026, a high-level committee of the IBA and bank unions was formed and held its first meeting on October 1. The association welcomed the dialogue but said a committee is not a Government decision and that no date has been communicated. It asked the MP to take the matter up with the Union Finance Minister and the Department of Financial Services, and to raise it in Parliament through a Question, Zero Hour submission or Special Mention seeking the status of the 2023 proposal and a date for notification.
