The Ministry of Labor has directed the national staff of Equity Bank to end their strike and resume work.

More than 200 employees of the bank downed their tools early this week in demand for a pay rise.

They wanted the bank management to multiply their current salary six times in line with the devaluation of the pound.

They said the management did not respond to their needs.

In a letter to the general manager, the undersecretary for labor and industrial relations said the decision by the workers is ‘illegal’.

“It does not hold because the current economic situation has come as a result of the realignment of the fixed exchange rate to the managed float exchange rate of US dollar by the government,” said Ms Mary Wani.

She asked the workers to be patient and advised the bank to establish a communication channel with the striking workers.