CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: On the call of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), demonstrations were held today in all state capitals across the country. As part of this nationwide protest, bank officers and employees in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, staged a strong, disciplined, and impactful demonstration demanding the implementation of a five-day banking week. This protest was an important link in the nationwide phased agitation programme announced by UFBU, with a large number of bank personnel participating from various banking centers across the city.
At the protest venue, employees held placards and raised slogans such as “We Demand 5 Days Banking” and “Five-Day Banking Week Is Our Right,” sending a clear message to the government and bank management that this long-pending demand can no longer be delayed.
On this occasion, AIBOC Madhya Pradesh President Subin Sinha said that the real challenge in the banking sector is not the number of working days, but the increasing workload and rising mental pressure on employees. He emphasized that a five-day banking week is essential for employees’ health, family balance, and overall efficiency. AIBOC Madhya Pradesh Secretary Dinesh Jha stated that with the expansion of digital banking, the responsibilities of bank employees have multiplied many times over; therefore, a five-day banking week is not a privilege but a fair and justified necessity.
Anil Shrivastava, President of SBIOA Bhopal Circle, said that a five-day banking week would boost employee morale and make the banking system stronger, more sensitive, and result-oriented. SBIOA DGS Rajneesh Pauranik said that expecting high-quality service from bank employees amid continuous long working hours and pressure is impractical; a five-day banking week would bring positive changes in productivity, service quality, and job satisfaction.
Other speakers said that bank employees are the backbone of the country’s economic system, but constantly rising targets, limited leave, and work-life imbalance are having a serious impact on their physical and mental health. They asserted that implementing a five-day banking week is not just an employee welfare issue, but a necessary step toward a human-centric, modern, and effective banking system.
A large number of office-bearers from various constituent organizations of UFBU and members of SBIOA Bhopal were present at the protest. Prominently present were Anil Shrivastava, Rajneesh Pauranik, Subin Sinha, Dinesh Jha, Veeru Sharma, Nirbhay Singh, Ambarish Nanda, Sumit Kumar, Lata Bharti, Shivprasad Ahirwar, Kshitij Tiwari, Arvind Pandiyar, Bhavna Tahilyani, Rahul Somkunwar, along with many other bank officers and employees.
The leaders of the movement warned that if the government and bank management do not take a concrete decision on the demand for a five-day banking week soon, UFBU will be compelled to intensify the agitation in the coming phases through dharnas, demonstrations, press conferences, and decisive steps such as an all-India strike. The protest remained completely peaceful, disciplined, and democratic, clearly demonstrating that bank employees are united for their rights, dignified working conditions, and a healthy work-life balance.
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