Ahmedabad: Banking services across Gujarat are expected to be severely impacted between March 22 and 25 due to a nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) on March 24 and 25.

The UFBU, an umbrella body of nine bank unions representing over 8 lakh employees across public, private, foreign, and regional rural banks, has called for the strike to press for various demands. As a result, public sector banks will remain closed for four consecutive days, with March 22 and 23 already being bank holidays due to the fourth Saturday and Sunday.

The unions are demanding adequate recruitment in all cadres, regularization of temporary employees, implementation of a five-day workweek, and job security. They are also opposing recent government directives related to performance-linked incentives, gratuity limit amendments, and outsourcing of permanent banking jobs.

In Gujarat, major public sector banks will shut down operations across 4,952 branches. Additionally, private banks will participate, affecting 70 branches. The disruption is expected to impact transactions worth ₹20,000 crore over two days. DeshGujarat