Covid-19 rising cases: Banks to reduce working hours, check details

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The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) ahs issued an advisory to banks across the country in view of the rising cases of Covid-19.

According to the advisory, banks were asked to reduce the working hours of employees and to continue only the essential services. Along with this, bankers have also been asked to consider the possibility of work from home.

New working hours

IBA has directed the banks to reduce business hours – customer visiting hours and transaction queries must be limited hereafter. This time can be from 10 AM to 2 PM. It also asked bank authorities to

promote facilities like digital banking and door step banking.

These four services will continue 

This includes cash deposits, cash withdrawals, money transfers from India and abroad and other government transactions. The State Level Bankers Committee of each state and union territory will review

the current status of the pandemic and decide on additional services that can be provided by banks.

Call employees on rotation; consider ‘Work From Home’

IBA has asked banks to call employees on rotational basis. Ideally 50% of the employees can be called on duty. It also asked banks to consider the possibility of working from home. However, it depends on the nature of work, rank and number of personnel.

Get bank employees vaccinated on priority basis

The IBA suggested that bankers should be encouraged to get vaccinated. It also asked the state level Bankers Committee to explore the possibility of vaccination camps for bank employees in collaboration with the Health Department and the state government.