Union Bank of India forced to withdraw Navratri dress code after facing strong backlash from bank unions

Public sector bank – Union Bank of India on Sunday revoked the circular dress code for its employees for the Navratri celebrations following strong protests from the bank’s unions and outcry on social media.

according to NDTV reports, a circular, entitled “Navratri Celebrations and Dress Rules”, was issued by AR Raghavendra, general manager, Digitization Department of Union Bank Of India headquarters in Mumbai.

Imposing a dress code on all its workers for Navratri to be followed between October 7-15, the circular also imposes a fine of Rs 200 if the rules are not followed.

The notice was issued on October 1 and also mandated daily group photos of all employees. Colors range from yellow, green, orange, white, dark blue, pink, purple, gray, red for the nine days of celebration, the bank said in its list of instructions. In check shirts, the base color will be considered, he further said.

The federation of employees argues that issuing “official instructions for celebrating religious festivals in offices, improving dress codes and imposition of punishments are not the official issues of the digitization department”.

The All India Federation of United Bank Employees in a letter to Union Bank of India said, “Navratri is a religious festival and which should be observed and celebrated privately and not officially in public sector banks which maintains high regard for the secular structure of our society. Festival celebrations anything is a voluntary phenomenon which has no room for any instructions/coercion any further to speak of the imposition of any punishment.”

It also highlights that this has “never happened in the 100 year history of the bank”.

Aired on: Sunday, October 10, 2021, 17:58 WIB