71 staffers sacked by Plan Int'l Nepal stage sit-in

Published On: November 22, 2018 04:30 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Nov 22: Plan International Nepal has decided to fire 76 staffers with effect from December 31 citing the organization's staff restructuring policy and resource crunch.

Those fired employees have started protest against the decision demanding reinstatement. They have accused the organization of doing injustice to them by abruptly announcing termination of their contracts. Some of the sacked staffers were working in the organization for the past 18 years.

The staffers working in various positions ranging from development coordinators to security guards said they were fired even without following due process. “They fired us abruptly. When we requested the management to provide the minute about our job termination they declined even to show the decision,” said Prem Khatri, a development coordinator. “But they instantly outsourced 24 security guards from Barun Security Company.”

According to him, they were “unceremoniously sacked” even as they were doing their jobs properly.

Dismayed by the decision, the sacked staffers have united as "Plan Victims" and had filed a complaint at the Department of Labor and Occupational Safety demanding their reinstatement. Responding to their compliant the department on Monday asked Plan International Nepal submit clarifications for firing the junior officials.

Also, the fired staffers have registered an application at the National Information Commission demanding disclosure of the minute of the meeting that decided to fire them. The sacked staffers have been staging sit-in in front of the office. They claimed that the decision was taken with the intent of victimizing innocent staff members.

Victims also complained that Plan International Nepal officials have warned them against staging protest and threatened them with consequences.

Shreeram KC, spokesperson for Plan International Nepal, said no such warning was issued against the fired staffers. “Instead, we are inviting them to sit for talks to clear any misunderstandings as the decision had to be taken due to resource crunch,” KC told Republica.