By IANS,
New Delhi : A section of employees of the government-run banks plan to go on two-day country wide strike beginning Wednesday to protest proposed amendments in banking regulation and outsourcing of jobs.
“We are pressing for several demands. The most important is the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill,” Pradip Biswas, general secretary of Bank Employees Federation of India, told IANS.
Biswas alleged that the proposed amendment would lead to privatisation of banks and retrenchment of jobs.
Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, which was tabled in parliament last year, seeks to raise voting rights ceiling in private banks. The proposed amendments also seek to exempt merger and acquisitions in banking sector from the purview of competition watchdog, the Competition Commission of India.
The United Forum of Bank Unions has called for the two-day strike Aug 22-23. Bank Employees Federation of India is a part of the forum.
Other unions that are part of the United Forum of Bank Unions include, National Confederation of Bank Employees, All India Bank Officers Association, India National Bank Employees Federation, Indian National Bank Officers Congress, National Organisation of Bank Workers, All India Bank Employees Association, and All India Bank Officers Confederation.
Biswas said the unions are also opposing the implementation of Khandelwal Committee recommendations on human resources issues. The committee recommends outsourcing of jobs and closure of many rural branches.