KATHMANDU, May 2: Seventy percent industries have been found to have defied the government decision to fully pay their workers for the Nepali month of Chaitra (March-April).
During a primary survey on the status of distribution of remuneration and operation of industries during the lockdown by the Whole Trade Union Nepal (WHIN), only 30 percent industries were found to have paid the full payment of March-April to their workers. The survey covers 219 industries associated with the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GFONT), in the five provinces with industrial density.
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The survey has found that 87 percent workers in Province 1, 58 percent in Province 2, 68 percent in Bagmati Province, 68 percent in Gandaki Province and 100 percent workers in Province 5 were not paid on a regular basis.
Workers of multinational companies, hydropower companies, food industries and drug industries were getting their pay regularly and such industries were operational during the lockdown.
Though the government had issued a notice in the national gazette seeking the full payment to formal sector workers for the month of Chaita, it seemed majority of industrialists were not serious to implement the government decision, said WHIN chair Anand Thami. He stressed the government should take strict measures for the interest of workers and those not abiding by the government directive should be deprived of state services.
During the lockdown, 24.65 percent industries were operated regularly, 15 percent partially and around 60 percent have remained completely closed.
