NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Bernama) -- A number of ATMs ran out of cash on the second day of strike by bank unions to protest against reforms in the banking sector and outsourcing of non-core services to the private sector.
Although private sector banks such as HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank functioned as usual, operations such as cash transactions, cheque clearances and foreign exchange dealings were affected, Press Trust of India reported.
The ATMs, which operated as usual on the first day of strike, ran out of cash on Thursday.
"The strike was successful as all bank employees have gone on strike over wage cut. The government should come forward and discuss with us. The unions will be meeting shortly to talk about future course of action," All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) general-secretary C H Venkatachalam said.
"ATMs have run dry as the banks have not been able to refill them with cash," he added.
The AIBEA said banking transactions have been affected in more than 70,000 branches across the country as about 1 million employees and officers from 24 public sector banks and 12 private banks participated in the strike.
State bank of India (SBI) chairman Pratip Chaudhuri said that the banking sector had incurred huge losses as a result of the strike.
Bank unions are protesting against reform measures such as the Banking Sector Laws Amendment Bill which seeks to remove restrictions on voting rights of foreign shareholders and increase voting rights of private investors in private sector banks.
The unions have demanded for the revision of pension and housing loan and a 5-day working week among other issues. -- NNN-BERNAMA
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