Three-day bank strike: Jackpot for central government employees; Ministry of Finance issues instructions

NEW DELHI: Central government employees will get salaries earlier this month in the wake of the nationwide bank strike scheduled from September 28 to 30. The Ministry of Finance issued instructions to distribute salaries and pensions as early as tomorrow (September 25). This arrangement covers employees in the defence, postal, and telecommunications sectors, in addition to those in central government offices.

Additionally, to prevent any prolonged disruption of banking services for customers due to the strike, banks will remain open on Sunday, September 27. This applies to public sector banks and regional rural banks. In accordance with Reserve Bank directives, bank branches, offices, ATM-linked branches, and currency chests will also operate on that day. The United Forum of Bank Unions has called for a three-day nationwide strike in September. The strike is being held to press for demands such as a five-day work week and a unified pension scheme.

Since September 30 marks the half-yearly closing day for the banking sector, the strike is likely to significantly impact banking operations. Meanwhile, various banks have advised customers to utilise digital services—such as mobile banking, internet banking, ATMs, UPI, and Business Correspondent (BC) points—for essential transactions during the strike. Customers have also been urged to complete important transactions before the strike.

Central government ministries and departments have been instructed to complete other government payments and banking transactions scheduled for the final days of September as early as possible. The Central Government also directed banks to ensure that ATMs are adequately stocked with cash and to take measures to prevent any inconvenience to the public.