Bank Unions challenge minister’s claim on staff vacancies in PSBs

A fresh controversy has erupted over staffing levels in public sector banks (PSBs) after the Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, stated in Parliament that 95% of clerical and sub-staff positions are filled based on business requirements. Bank employee unions have strongly contested this claim, arguing that acute staff shortages continue to burden bank branches across the country.

In response to a query in the Lok Sabha, Chaudhary cited data from PSBs, stating that as of January 1, 2025, the percentage of clerks and sub-staff in position against business requirements stood at 95%. He attributed any gaps to attrition due to superannuation and unplanned exits.

However, the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) has refuted this assertion, pointing to a significant decline in clerical and subordinate staff numbers over the years. According to the union, official data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) contradicts the figures presented by the minister.

Union leaders argue that between 2013 and 2024, the number of clerical staff in PSBs has fallen from 398,801 to 246,965—a sharp decline of over 150,000 positions. Similarly, the number of sub-staff has dropped by nearly 57,000 during the same period. The AIBEA contends that vacancies remain unfilled due to what it describes as an informal ban on clerical and sub-staff recruitment, allegedly imposed by the government.

“The minister’s statement does not reflect ground reality. There is an acute staff shortage in bank branches, forcing employees to work beyond regular hours and compelling banks to rely on temporary and casual workers,” said C.H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary of the AIBEA.

The union has also highlighted the stark contrast in employment trends between PSBs and private sector banks. While public banks have seen a drop in non-officer staff, private sector banks have significantly expanded their workforce—from 171,071 employees in 2011 to 846,530 in 2024.

The dispute over staffing numbers comes amid rising tensions between bank unions and the government. Unions have called for a nationwide strike on March 24-25, demanding immediate recruitment to address the staffing crisis and improve working conditions in PSBs.

With conflicting data from the government and unions, the debate over staffing levels in public sector banks is set to intensify in the coming weeks.