A nationwide bank strike has been called for today, February 12, by several bank unions. The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA) and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) have urged their members to participate. In addition, 10 central trade unions have announced a parallel strike across the industrial sector.
The strike has been organised in protest against the implementation of the new labour codes. The participating organisations allege that replacing existing labour laws with the new codes undermines workers’ rights. Alongside opposing the labour codes, bank employees’ and officers’ bodies are also demanding a five-day work week with two weekly offs.
ALSO READ | Gold climbs, silver slips in Wednesday trade in Kolkata after early February dip
Are banks closed today?
Although a bank strike has been called on February 12, no bank has separately announced a holiday. However, it is feared that the daily operations of banks may face problems.
In a filing to the BSE, State Bank of India (SBI) said, "We have been advised by the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) that All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA), Bank Employees’ Federation of India (BEFI) and All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA) have served a notice, informing their decision to go on a nationwide bank strike on Thursday, 12th February 2026."
In this connection, SBI added that while it has made necessary arrangements to ensure normal functioning across its branches and offices on the day of the strike, some disruption cannot be ruled out. The bank stated that work may be impacted to a limited extent.
ALSO READ | Stock market closes mixed as Sensex falls and Nifty posts marginal gain after US–India trade rally
Similarly, Bank of Baroda (BoB) said in a regulatory filing, "We inform you that the All India Bank Employee’s Association - AIBEA, All India Bank Officers Association - AIBOA and Bank Employees Federation of India - BEFI has served notice informing their decision to go on Strike on Thursday February 12, 2026, on various issues/demands," BoB said in a regulatory filing.
Meanwhile, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), in a press release, expressed support for the strike. It stated that it expresses its 'solidarity with the working class of India, on the upcoming Nationwide General Strike on 12th February 2026.'
"We understand with shock and anguish that the Narendra Modi Government of India has passed and notified Four Labour Codes superseding 29 labour-related Acts of the Indian Parliament. These Labour Codes are designed to hit hard the Right to Association, Right to Collective Bargaining and Right to Strike. The joint strike action of the Indian trade unions is demanding outright scrapping of these anti-worker Labour Codes along with the ‘Shram Shakti Niti, 2025’," WFTU said in its press release.
