BHUBANESWAR: THE All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) today reiterated its demands for regulated working hours for bank officers as well as restoration of the compassionate appointment scheme in the banks.
The ninth triennial general council meeting of the Confederation which is set to go underway here tomorrow would be passing resolutions to this effect along with other issues as provisioning of protection to bank officers as done in case of Government officials.
Speaking to mediapersons here, general secretary GD Nadaf said that though there were fixed working hours in all other sectors for bank officers there was no such regulation. As a result, they were forced to work for long and irregular hours. "We demand regulated working hours as well as fiveday week system in the banking industry that is in tune with the global practice. When the stock market, the RBI and foreign banks have such a system in place, it should also be extended to banks," he said.
The compassionate appointment scheme for kin of deceased officers was unilaterally taken away in 1996 should be reintroduced in the interest and welfare of the bank employees, he added.
The confederation has also sought protection mechanisms for bank officers in duty time. They have been kept out as they are not treated in the workman category under the ILO Convention. This should be amended and they should be brought under the net.
The three-day General Council would be attended by over 1,500 delegates and deliberate on issues confronting the labour movement, rights and privileges of professional workers that have not been implemented by the Government, recruitments and extension of banking facilities to interiors.
Inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the council would have Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and PNB chairman and managing director KR Kamat as guests.