The resort had to face huge embarassment when workers did not report to work Thursday morning, demanding minimum wages as fixed by the government. [break]
The hotel resumed operations Friday afternoon when agitating workers returned to work following a request by the hotel management.
"We requested them to come back to work and they have returned," General Manager of the resort Bikram Shakya said.
He said although the resort has resumed operations, there are no guests in the hotel. He further said although workers have come back to work, issues are yet to be resolved. "They are back to work but we will resolve the issue on the negotiation table in the presence of officials of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN)," he added.
Tripartite talks between agitating union, hotel management, and HAN officials have been scheduled for Saturday in the capital at HAN´s central office.
The hotel closed operations Thursday morning after all workers didn´t return to work following a strike called by All Nepal Hotel and Restaurant Workers Association (ANHRWA), Club Himalaya unit. More than 60 employees are working with the resort.
President of Maoist-led ANHRWA, Bhaktapur Om Thakuri, said, "The workers are demanding a raise of Rs 1,600 across the board to all employees while the management said it can give the raise to those who are not receiving the government fixed minimum salary but not to those who are already drawing minimum salary or more."
He said the union had given written ultimatums to the management and when the management refused to pay heed to their demands, the workers had no choice but to stirke work.
Hotel officials said there were 77 guests put up at the hotel and they were forced to move out when it was suddenly closed down. The 44-room hotel with a capacity to accommodate more than 100 guests has nearly 100 percent booking till December.
Meanwhile, HAN has condemned the workers´ act of shutting down the resort in a press release.
The release stated that sudden closure of the resort is against the Essential Act of the government.
"This is an illegal strike and the issue should be resolved legally," the release added. HAN said the government should ensure smooth operations of tourism related activities.
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