All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC) West Bengal State Unit organized a press meet, on 2nd December at Kolkata Press Club, to voice their demands on certain urgent and critical issues. AIBOC, the largest apex trade union representing the Supervisory Cadre in the Banking Industry, called for immediate resolutions to the following urgent and critical issues, which could severely impact the well-being and morale of its members:
Issues, raised at the press meet, are as follows:
●Urgent Need for Recruitment of Regular Employees in PSBs – Shortage of manpower, combined with escalating workload. significant employee attrition and limited recruitment, have placed Bank officers in precarious situations.
●Implementation of 5-Day Work Week in Banking Industry – Despite years of negotiation on this pressing issue, crucial towards achieving work-life balance, the same is still pending formal notification from Government after IBA recommendation.
●Protective Measures for Bankers Against Assaults – Despite advisories from the DFS, GOI, urging strong action against such behavior, instances of verbal and physical assaults, threat and harassment of bank officers on duty, are continuously on the rise and persist nationwide. AIBOC strongly urges the Government to implement befitting protective measures for bank employees.
●Scrapping NPS, Introducing Defined Pension Scheme in Barking Industry – AIBOC calls upon the Government and Management to address and restore the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme for post-2010 bank employees and officers, thereby ensuring a peaceful and dignified retirement for all bank employees.
●Opposition to DFS Directives on Employee Performance Reviews and Premature Retirement – With PSBs already facing severe staffing shortages, aggravated by the lack of recruitment in clerical and sub-staff cadres, this DFS directive adds further stress to an overstretched workforce and threatens the very sustainability of the industry. AIBOC vehemently opposes this directive and urges DFS to respect the intemal governance and independence of PSBs in managing workforce issues.
●Unfair labour practices -Increasing intervention by DFS in the internal affairs of PSBs is itself escalating IR issues. AIBOC opposes such excessive micro management and urges DFS to issue a clear advisory that reaffirms its stance on labour practices within banks, ensuring that the autonomy of individual bank management and fair labour practices are respected.
●Appointment of Employee Directors and Non Workmen Directors on the Banks’ Boards-The appointments of Employee Directors and Non-Workmen Directors to the Boards of Banks remain pending, despite clear legal mandates and judicial directives. AIBOC urges the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to expedite the appointment process to ensure adherence to statutory and legal provisions, promoting an inclusive governance structure across public sector banks.
As per AIBOC representatives, these issues have been persistently raised before the IBA and the Government, emphasizing the need for immediate intervention. Yet, the lack of concrete responses has left them with no option but to intensify their agitation.
AIBOC, West Bengal State Unit, having resolved to take determined action for the immediate redressal of these outstanding concems, gears up for the fight for justice and well being of the financial eco-system.