According to C.H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary, AIBEA, while the information technology (IT) systems of the ten banks that were amalgamated into four are yet to be integrated, the amalgamation is working smoothly till now. “Each bank had its own employee benefit schemes. The scheme that is most beneficial to the employees were extended to all the employees of the amalgamated entity. This way heartburn were not created,” Venkatachalam told IANS.
“The next step is to draw up the career, transfer and other policies of the amalgamated entities taking into account the policies of individual banks. Till now bank branches have not been closed. But post lockdown there will be rationalization of branches,” Venkatachalam said.
“The amalgamation has happened in a friendly manner and not in a hostile way,” Venkatachalam added.
On the pending wage talks with Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), AIBEA GS C H Venkatachalam said the Covid-19 has resulted in an emergency situation for the country and the people and the priority is to safeguard the interest of the people.
“The migrant workers’ problem would not have arisen had only the corporates paid them even half their wages during the lockdown period. The Indian business stands exposed now,” he said.
Read – 11th Bipartite Wage Settlement – Current Status & Updates