Nationwide Strike on Jan 27 Could Shut Banks for 3 Straight Days
Millions of banking customers across India face a massive disruption this month as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has officially called for a countrywide strike on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
This industrial action threatens to paralyze public sector banks and several private lenders for three consecutive days, as the strike date immediately follows the Republic Day weekend (January 25 and 26).
The decision to strike was finalized by the UFBU, an umbrella organization representing nine major bank unions, including the All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) and the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC).
The call for action follows months of frustration over the government’s perceived “stalling” on a critical work-life reform.
The “Five-Day Week” Standoff
The primary catalyst for the strike is the long-pending implementation of a five-day working week.
Currently, bank employees receive holidays only on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
While the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) had recommended a five-day week to the Ministry of Finance following a wage revision settlement in March 2024, the government has yet to grant final approval.
Union leaders have labeled this delay “unjustified and discriminatory,” pointing out that several other major financial and government entities already operate on five-day schedules:
- Financial Regulators: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and LIC.
- Government Offices: Both Central and State government offices.
- Capital Markets: Stock exchanges (BSE/NSE) and foreign exchange markets.
The “Zero Man-Hour Loss” Proposal
To counter government concerns regarding reduced productivity, the UFBU has proposed a compensatory model.
Under this plan, bank employees have agreed to extend daily working hours by 40 minutes from Monday to Friday.
“We are not asking for less work; we are asking for a more humane work-life balance that aligns with modern global standards,” stated a senior UFBU representative.
The unions argue that the current six-day weeks (for the first and third weeks of the month) lead to mental fatigue and higher error rates among frontline staff who have faced increased pressure since the post-pandemic digital surge.
Bank Employees Strike: Disruption and Economic Impact
If the strike proceeds, the impact will be far-reaching due to the “Holiday Triple-Threat”:
- January 25 (Sunday): Regular holiday.
- January 26 (Monday): Republic Day (National Holiday).
- January 27 (Tuesday): Nationwide Bank Strike.
During this 72-hour window, branch-level operations—including cash deposits, cheque clearances, and loan processing—will come to a standstill.
While online banking and UPI services are expected to function, the physical replenishment of ATMs could be severely affected, potentially leading to cash shortages in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
The #5DayBankingNow campaign on social media has already garnered over 1.8 million impressions, signaling deep-seated support among the banking workforce.
Unless the Finance Ministry intervenes with a formal notification before the January 27 deadline, the country must prepare for one of the most significant banking shutdowns of 2026.
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