New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) The government today assured the high level delegation of the bank unions that there would be no ban on recruitment while agreeing to discuss further the demands on recruitment of employees on compassionate ground and a ban on outsourcing of bank operations.

The assurance was given by Finance Minister P Chidambaram, when a joint delegation of the United Forum of Bank Unions led by CPI AITUC General Secretary Gurudas Gupta met him here.

''There has been some positive advancements in negotiation with the Finance Minister on our demands --- resumption of large-scale recruitment in Public Sector Banks; a ban on outsourcing of bank operations; more jobs on compassionate grounds; and a second option with regard to pension,'' CITU President M K Pandhe told UNI.

Mr Pandhe said the Finance Minister had considered the employees's demand for lifting ban on recruitment.

Mr Chidambaram told the employees representatives categorically that there would be no ban on recruitment in the public sector banks, he said.

Describing the outcome of negotiations as positive and still continuing, the CITU President said the Finance Minister had also assured that the issue of recruiting workers on compassionate ground would also be sorted out.

''The government was positive.'' The government and the representatives of the bank employees had call a three-day strike beginning March 28.

UNI