Covid-hit bank branch seeks 50% staff strength

Bhopal: Banking operations in the main branch of a public sector bank in TT Nagar were badly affected as Covid-19 infected a large number of employees and officials. Bank unions have now demanded working with 50% attendance.The

United forum of Bank Unions

(UFBU) has already expressed apprehension that “bank branches could become

Covid

hotspots”.In a letter to the chief minister, convener

Sanjeev Sablok

and coordinator V K

Sharma

have written a letter to the chief minister highlighting the issue. “Instead of six days a week, the

banks

may be operated for five days with 50% attendance,” they appealed.“At least 10% of the bank personnel are infected in every branch,” said a bank trade union leader said.On Monday, there were hardly any bank personnel in the TT Nagar branch of the SBI. One of the most crowded branches buzzing with business activities, the banking operations were paralysed. A handful of bank personnel were manning the counters. “There are hardly 10 employees and officials,” a bank employee said. Talking to TOI, V K Sharma of UFBU said, “A large number of bank employees are infected. This is spreading Covid.” Banks with their headquarters in Bhopal (administrative offices) have started practicing 50% attendance. “If they can have 50% strength when there is no customer flow, it should be allowed in the branches too,” said Sharma.