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Banking on a Day Off: Union Protests Compulsory Holiday Work for NPA Recovery at Regional Rural Bank
The bank officers' union (AIRRBOF) is strongly protesting an order from the Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank (UPGB) that forces officers in the Kanpur Dehat area to come to work on a declared holiday. They are demanding the order be immediately cancelled, arguing that the bank cannot legally force staff to sacrifice their holiday for a debt recovery target drive.
Author: S Nila
Published: 7 hours ago
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An internal circular issued by the All India Regional Rural Bank Officers' Federation (AIRRBOF) has brought into focus the persistent tension between operational targets, particularly Non-Performing Asset (NPA) recovery, and the fundamental rights of bank officers to a declared holiday and a healthy work-life balance.
Image - The statement by the concerned organisations
The circular, dated in late September 2025, specifically calls for the immediate withdrawal of an order compelling officers of the Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank (UPGB) in the Kanpur Dehat Region to report for duty on a declared holiday, reportedly September 27, 2025, for a crucial NPA recovery drive.
The Core Grievance: Violation of Work-Life Balance
The primary objection raised by the AIRRBOF is the unilateral decision by the bank's management to mandate attendance on a day officially designated as a holiday. The Federation’s stance is built on the following key points:
- Infringement of Rights: Compelling officers to work on a declared holiday is an arbitrary act that violates established service conditions and ignores the need for work-life balance.
- Target Pressure: The drive for NPA recovery, while an essential function, should not be executed by overriding employee entitlements. Such directives often indicate an excessive, last-minute push to meet mandated targets, which places undue mental and physical stress on the officers.
- Precedent of Protest: This specific instance is symptomatic of a larger industry-wide issue where public sector bank managements frequently resort to mobilising staff, often through pressure or punitive threats, to meet government scheme targets or recovery goals, even at the expense of officers' personal time.
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Context: The Perpetual Pressure on Bank Officers
The compulsion to work on holidays for special drives is not an isolated incident. It is rooted in the high-pressure environment governing banking in India, especially within the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), which are critical for financial inclusion and implementing government schemes.
High-Stakes NPA Recovery
The pressure on bank officers to recover Non-Performing Assets is intense, as a high NPA ratio negatively impacts a bank's profitability and reputation. Management often implements aggressive, time-bound recovery campaigns, particularly towards the end of quarters or the financial year. The Federation's protest highlights a conflict:
Operational Exigency (NPA Recovery)vs.Employee Welfare (Declared Holiday)
By demanding immediate withdrawal, the union underscores that operational necessity cannot be used as an excuse to disregard official holiday schedules.
The Broader Union Movement
The AIRRBOF's action aligns with the broader demands of various banking sector officers' and employees' associations, such as the All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) and the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). Their long-standing demands include:
- Five-Day Work Week: A key demand across the industry to enhance work-life balance, which the government and Indian Banks' Association (IBA) have been considering.
- Against Micro-Management: Consistent opposition to directives from the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and bank managements that are seen as micro-managing operations, undermining job security, and leading to unrealistic target pressures.
- Withdrawal of Arbitrary Directives: Regular protests against directives related to performance reviews, performance-linked incentives (PLI), and targets that often force officers to compromise due diligence, leading to increased professional liability.
Conclusion: A Call for Humane Governance
The AIRRBOF's circular serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle between mandated operational performance and employee rights within the Indian banking sector. For the officers of the Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank, the forced attendance on September 27, 2025, represents not just the loss of a day off, but a failure of the management to institutionalise a humane and balanced working environment. The union’s public demand for the withdrawal of the order is a call for governance that respects established norms and the well-being of its human capital, rather than relying on high-pressure tactics to meet financial targets.
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