In order to check frequent strikes by bank employees, the government on Tuesday extended the period of public utility status of banking services and made it mandatory for workers to give six months notice before proceeding on strike.

The labour ministry in a notification issued here said the services of the banking industry have been declared public utility under the Industrial Disputes Act for another six months with effect from September 30, 2004.

The government had declared services in this industry as public utility for six months from March 30, 2004, an official release said.

The employees will have to give six weeks notice in adavance to start conciliatory proceedings.

"During the conciliatory proceedings and seven days after their completion, the employees can not go on strike," the release added.

The move comes on the back of one-day strike observed by bank unions on August 24, under the bannner of United Forum of Bank Unions.

Over 10 lakh public sector bank employees and officers participated in the protest against the 'delay' in wage revision, paralysing financial sector operations across the country and had threatened to go on a two-day strike on October 5 and 6, which they later deferred.