According to TNBEF General Secretary E Arunachalam, ‘the State Level Bankers’ Committee’s guidelines stipulate that all bank branches should function as usual, extend full-fledged services and all the employees should report at their workplace.’

He added: ‘This is proving to be a Herculean task as a majority of employees, particularly those that depend on the public transport system to commute to their workplace.’

With the extension of the lockdown till 31 August, bus and local train services continue to remain off the road/track; bank managements have not taken any steps to arrange some mode of transportation to enable the employees to get to the branch. Nonetheless, banking has been classified as an essential service.”

Stating that many employees working in the branches of various banks have been tested Covid-19 positive in the last few weeks, he said that some have even lost their lives.