The workers had padlocked the factory on Friday to press the management on their demand for advance payment of salaries for the Nepali month of Ashwin, which ends on October 17. They had even locked two managerial-level staff for four hours.[break]
Bishnu Rimal, chairman of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), termed the acts of workers “hooliganism” and clarified that no trade unions were involved in the closure of the factory.
“If the management can prove involvement of any trade union in the incident, it can take appropriate action against them,” he told Republica, condemning the practices of shutting down industries.
The workers of NSI had launched the strike on the very day five major trade unions, including GEFONT, Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), agreed not to launch strikes for the next four years.
“The company has come back into operation after workers, who had incited others to close down the company, were identified,” said Ravi Bhakta Shrestha, chairman of NSI.
He said six workers had initiated the protest that led to the closure of the company for two days. These individuals were picked up by the company management and officials of ANTUF and GEFONT Saturday night, according to Shrestha.
He said these workers had directly violated the existing Labor Law, which states that workers must first submit their demands and wait for up to 15 days to get the response from the company management. However, the workers had instantly asked the management to pay their full salary of Ashwin in advance citing the upcoming festival.
“This is the fault of trade unions in the country, which have still not been able to orient their workers to be professional in corporate matters,” said a senior management official on condition of anonymity.
Shrestha said the workers, who had led the protest, will be laid off from their positions in the company after the Dashain festival, as per the pact between the government, the apex body of the private sector and major trade unions.
On Friday, Central Labor Advisory Committee (CLAC), which is made up of the government, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and five trade unions, had reached an agreement to implement hire-and-fire policy.
A senior management official of the factory said sudden closure of the factory showed that workers at local level are still beyond the control of central leaders.
NSI, established with an initial investment of Rs 100 million in 1997, was producing OK brand soap and Wheel detergent power under sub-contract for Unilever. Its annual turnover hovers around Rs 500 million and the factory employed 155 workers.
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