They have put forth 16-point charter of demands, including appointment letter for workers, insurance facility, overtime allowance and permanent appointment to workers who have worked for eight months.“
"Our protest is already in the fifth day. Unfortunately, neither the government nor the petroleum dealers have taken any concrete initiative to resolve the issue," Shiva Prasad Pokhrel, secretary of NPWA, told Republica on Tuesday. Furious at the government and dealers´ apathy toward the issue, the workers have decided to continue their protest until their demands are addressed“
"The refilling stations that are not providing government-fixed salary to their workers should close their busine”s," Pokhrel added. He also claimed that workers were drawing only Rs 1,500 per month, without any overtime allowance and insurance facility, despite long working hours and hazardous nature of works.
The workers also said they had not received invitation for talks till Tuesday evening.
According to NPWA, over 10,000 petroleum workers are employed across the country.
The number of vehicles plying on the roads across the country has declined by over 25 percent, due to shortage of petroleum products, according to entrepreneurs.“
"More than 25 percent vehicles have remained off the roads due to fuel crun”h," Saroj Raj Sitaula, treasurer of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs National Federation, said.
The shortage of vehicles has ultimately hit commuters as vehicles stay off the roads from the early evening.
However, the agitating workers have allowed refilling stations operated by Sajha, Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force to receive supplies from NOC depots. Long queues of vehicles can been at these refilling stations.
Consumer rights activists have flayed the government´s apathy to toward the problem, even as the consumers continue to reel under acute fuel shortage“
"The government has remained silent even as the problem of fuel shortage is deepening. It is an irresponsible a”t," Joyti Baniya, general secretary of Consumers´ Rights Protection Forum, told Republica. He also claimed the workers put forth different demands as the possibility of fuel adulteration has reduced after the government fixed equal price for diesel and kerosene.
Meanwhile, Petroleum Dealers´ Association, the umbrella body of private refilling stations, has called agitating workers for talks on Wednesday.
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