“We allowed distribution of fuel considering the trouble consumers have gone through due to halt in supply,” said Gokarna Khadka of agitating Nepal Petroleum Workers´ Union. He told myrepublica.com that they would return to strike on Tuesday, as their employers are still not willing to pay them the minimum wage set by the government.
However, the workers obstructed refilling and movement of tankers to and from Thankot and Amlekhgunj depots. As a result, none of more than 100 private dealers in the capital received the fuel. This means, the consumers may not get fuel on Tuesday. The dealers said they had no stock to distribute and the workers are also adamant on halting the movement of tankers outside NOC depots.
Officials of Nepal Petroleum Dealers´ Association (NPDA), the body of private dealers, said they were not in a position to enforce the minimum wage provision in their business due to low profit margin and uneven volume of sales. “Not all dealers enjoy robust sales. How can we ask them to pay more to their workers?” wondered Saroj Pandey, president, NPDA.
Other dealers argued that if the government wished them to fulfill workers´ demand, they would have to seek a raise in dealers´ commission from the NOC.
Dealers, however, have agreed to provide insurance coverage, dress and other facilities to the workers. “As for the issue of minimum wage, we are submitting a memorandum to the Labor Minister on Tuesday,” stated Pandey.
Agitating workers, who have been sitting for talks with dealers, stated that they were ready to accept instant introduction of minimum wage in the Valley and gradual extension outside the capital. However, dealers weren´t ready to buy the workers´ proposal. Instead, they approached Kathmandu District Administration Office and the government to provide security for smooth supply of petroleum products.
Meanwhile, the NOC has instructed both the workers and dealers to end the stalemate at the earliest.
“We cannot allow their dispute to affect supplies and hurt consumers,” stated Digambhar Jha, executive director, NOC. He also hinted that the NOC might intervene if the two sides failed to resolve the issues soon.
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