The management of Manoj Pharmaceuticals, Shiva Pharmaceutical Works, Manoj Chemical Works and Makalu Herbs Production announced the closure on Sunday after workers pressed the management to hike monthly salary of workers to Rs 6,200 and daily wage to Rs 231.[break]
“We were compelled to shut the factories after the workers halted production all of a sudden without giving prior information,” the management said in a notice on Sunday. It has also asked the workers to collect their outstanding salary and wage from the account department.
All Nepal Trade Union Federation-Revolutionary (ANTUF-R), which is affiliated with the ruling UCPN (Maoist), and UML-aligned General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFON) were supporting the protest.
The workers were on a warpath since August 29. They had started halting production from Friday.
Govinda Ram Agrawal, proprietor of all the four drug makers, said he had no option but to close the factories after workers hampered production of sensitive commodity like medicines. “Their demand was under discussion. How can we continue production if workers start halting productions?” questioned Agrawal.
He also informed that the factory was paying Rs 800 per month as advance payment to the workers on condition that it would be reviewed in line with the Supreme Court´s final verdict on the case.
The management has claimed that the factories have been closed by following provisions mentioned in the Labor Act.
The agitating workers, however, have accused the management of closing the factories without following due procedures. They have also urged the management to open the factories and fulfill their genuine demands.
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