AIBNOF demands uniform guidelines across all nationalised banks

The All India Nationalised Banks Officers’ Federation (AIBNOF) has asked the Indian Banks Association (IBA) to implement a few uniform rules and guidelines across all banks to prevent discrepancies and confusion. 

Bank employees who have been commuting to work everyday even during the strict lockdown period have fallen prey to the virus as well. As it is, the number of cases in the country is increasing day after day. To counter this, different banks have issued regulations and rules to ensure safety 

Individual banks have issued various guidelines along the lines of safety, benefits, leave classification, reimbursement and compensation and insurance coverage among others. However, these guidelines are not uniform across banks leading to a lot of exasperation among bank employees. 

To avoid this confusion, AIBNOF has asked the IBA to consider implementing the following guidelines across all nationalised banks. 

First, Banks should tie up with reputed hospitals or make suitable arrangements at select cities and towns and provide covid-19 testing facilities for all officers and employees. In addition, they have demanded that individual isolation wards should also be provided for covid infected employees and their family members as well. 

Second, the cost of treatment and hospitalisation for both employees and family members should be borne by the organisation including the cost of arranging for personal protective equipment (PPE) kits. 

In case of untimely death of any employee on or before December 31, 2020, the bank has to pay a compensation amount of Rs. 50 lakh to the lega heirs of the employee. This is in condition that the death has occurred while in service and due to a covid infection. 

Fourth, transport service facilities for the younger staff and female employees should be arranged by the company at a cluster level by exploring possible arrangements with reputed travel agencies. 

Fifth, vulnerable employees such as those with disabilities, pregnant employees and those above the age of 55 years with acute health issues should be exempted from active duties till the infection has been taken care of and life returns to normal.