Bank unions proceed with 27 January strike, seeking five-day work week and all Saturdays off
India’s bank unions are set to hold a one-day nationwide strike on 27 January 2026, saying the government has delayed approval for a five-day work week. The protest is expected to disrupt services across multiple types of banks, with unions pointing to earlier agreements and recommendations that remain pending.
One-day shutdown call across banks
Banking services are expected to face disruption on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, as employee and officer unions under the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) proceed with a one-day nationwide strike. The unions say the key demand is implementation of a five-day work week, with all Saturdays declared holidays.
According to the report, the strike is intended to cover a wide range of institutions, including public sector banks as well as private, foreign, regional rural and cooperative banks. Union leaders argue that the request is not new, and that prior understandings and recommendations have not translated into a final government decision.
What the unions are demanding
The proposed model would keep banks open from Monday to Friday, while increasing weekday working hours to offset Saturdays becoming bank holidays. Unions say similar schedules are already followed by institutions and markets such as the Reserve Bank of India and stock exchanges, and that banking should align with that standard.
The unions also cite past settlements and joint notes between UFBU and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), claiming the IBA had recommended the five-day system and the file has been awaiting government clearance for an extended period.
Customer impact
Customers may face slower branch services and delays in certain counter transactions on the strike day. People with urgent cash, cheque or branch-dependent needs are advised to plan in advance and rely on digital channels where possible, as service levels can vary by bank and location during labour action.