The assurance from the PM came when a delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) met him in the afternoon. [break]
“Your (business community’s) demand makes sense, especially given the lower labor productivity, increased incidence of strikes and high degree of political engagement among workers. We will discuss your ‘no work no pay’ demand at the cabinet and take an appropriate decision soon”, a senior government official quoted the prime minister as saying during the meeting.
The private sector representatives had submitted a memorandum to the PM demanding that a favorable investment climate be restored mainly through the sorting out of labor-related problems, entrepreneurs be allowed to ‘exit’ their ventures with ease and the perennial problem of power supply ended.
They asked the government in the main to incorporate a ‘hire and fire’ provision in the new industrial policy. “We also demanded that the government waive duty and charges on the import of thermal plants by the private sector in a bid to help us do away with the power supply woes,” said Surendra Bir Malakar, who was present at the meeting.
The business delegation had also asked the government to make arrangements for Nepal Electricity Authority to buy power from private sector-operated thermal plants.
The PM instructed the Ministry of Industry to work out the optimum facilities that the government can extend to industry and also facilitate the tackling of labor stirs and other problems to improve industrial relations and the industrial climate. He also promised an easy exit for the business community in case they cannot sustain their business ventures.
The business community had met the PM as a part of its initiative to force the government to create an industry-enabling environment. At an emergency meeting on Sunday, different business associations had concluded that the country was reeling under an unprecedented industrial crisis and decided to seek the government’s help to solve the problem.
Going by that decision, the private sector has urged the government to declare an ‘industrial emergency’ in the country and pledge waiver of the demand charge (fixed minimum charge) for electricity supplied to industries. It has also demanded that the government declare industrial estates a strike-free zone.
The business community has claimed that Nepal’s industrial sector has lost production worth over Rs 80 billion during the past one year due to unprecedented load-shedding.
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