The current coronavirus pandemic has made many workers, inter-alia, unemployed and either loss of part or all of their income. The crisis has also led to many having to work from home (WFH). In the banking sector it is predominantly WFH since there is no moral justification for Banks to retrench workers.

Implementation of the WFH by Banks has led to confusion to both the management staff and NUBE members in view of the ambiguous regulations by the authorities. Ineffective engagement between NUBE and some Banks has further escalated the problem. Banks are an essential service in areas under CMCO and they must have clear procedures to follow.

These ambiguous regulations have also licensed certain irresponsible banks to enforce their own rulings based on harmful policies which will cost the livelihood of workers. These harmful policies are of grave concern to NUBE. Therefore, there is a need for these irresponsible banks to cease immediately policies from affecting the livelihood of both management staff and NUBE members.

Though WFH is implemented to reduce the number of workers for social distancing but there are certain banks disguising social distancing to retrench workers. We have noticed some banks are offering WFH selectively to their employees, while some other banks are asking NUBE members to stay at home while their officers and managers are performing functions of NUBE members. Some banks have outsourced both locally and overseas.

Some Banks automate the functions of our members during this pandemic and direct management staff to operate the automated functions instead of members, thus making the management staff underemployed while refusing to retrain and re-skill our members.

Those members who are insisting to WFH, please be reminded and remain cautious that there are some irresponsible Banks planning to retrench you. They will justify that they could manage banking operations without you and therefore they do not need you after the CMCO. Such brutal banks will be exposed if they refuse to cease their shameful act.

We advise all members not to be overly excited with the WFH, the likelihood is that instead of you returning to work, you will receive retrenchment letters. Meanwhile, we request all members to report to NUBE immediately of any such cruelty. Help NUBE to protect your job so that when the pandemic is over you still have a JOB.