A delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) on Tuesday met with Minister for Labor and Employment Hari Prasad Neupane and urged the latter to implement the Clause for issuing an order to end the strike for restoring industrial peace. [break]
As per the Section 80 of the Labor Act, the government can issue an order to end strikes which are likely to cause a breach in the law and order situation of the country or would be contrary to the economic interest of the country or strikes commenced in essential services prescribed by the prevailing law.
Trade unions affiliated to different political parties are protesting in over a dozen industries demanding salary hike for all employees in proportion to the pay hike for minimum wage earners.
The government recently raised minimum monthly wage of workers by Rs 1,800 to Rs 8,000.
After meeting with the minister, FNCCI Vice-Chairman Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar said strikes are being launched in different parts of the country without following due process and giving prior information to the management according to the law.
He also said the FNCCI delegation also asked the government to permit entrepreneurs to close their industries if strikes continue unabated. He also maintained that the industries, which are shut down by trade unions, would implement ´no work, no pay´ system.
“The government has raised minimum wage of workers. But trade unions are illegally demanding that the management pay the increased amount to all employees,” he added.
Trade unions of different political parties have shut down 14 industries in Birgunj-Pathlaiya corridor demanding pay hike for all employees. Trade unions have shut down seven industries of Tribeni Group and two industries of Golchha Organization. They have also hampered productions of Nu Plast, Hanuman Metal, G D Pharmaceuticals, Hama Iron and Kansai Paints. Similarly, some industries at Hetauda Industrial Estate have also been shut down by the employees over pay hike row.
FNCCI officials said industrial unrest has also been felt in Morang and Rautahat districts.
“We have drawn attention of the minister toward labor woes in different industries across the country,” FNCCI said in a statement on Tuesday. The government plan of increasing investment and creating jobs won´t materialize if trade unions illegally push for salary hike in the name of implementing minimum wage increment, it added.
Talking to Republica, Bishnu Rimal, President of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Union (GFONT), said workers´ pay has already been reviewed in industries in Biratnagar and Hetauda. “Problems arose after Tribeni Group and Golchha Organization turned down the trade union´s demand to review salary,” added Rimal.
Rimal also suggested to the employers to settle the dispute with trade unions at the local level instead of influencing government officials. He was referring to the press statement that the Department of Labor issued on Monday.
According to FNCCI, the minister has assured FNCCI members that he would try to resolve the issues by sitting for talks with the trade unions.
He has reportedly asked officials to arrange tripartite meeting of trade unions, government and industrialists at the earliest.
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