The manufacturing works resumed after the management agreed to annul its recent recruitment decision and committed to give priority to locals while hiring new staff - two major demands that agitating workers and locals were raising.[break]
The management entered in an agreement with agitating parties after holding talks with mediation of the Ministry of Industry (MoI).
According to Jit Bahadur Bhatta, chairman of Local Struggle Committee (LSC), workers and locals approved the reopening of the production facility after the pact agreed to cancel recent appointments. Similarly, the management has also agreed to give first priority to locals while filling vacant posts.
"It has been agreed that the management will now appoint locals if any post falls vacant," said Bhatta.
The management also agreed to offer employment to the family members of those workers who were recently laid off on the grounds that they were above 55 years of age. The management had laid off 10 such staff members and employed six new employees in place of the laid-off employees.
During the closure of one week, the industry has suffered a loss of around Rs 15 million.
"If laying off of the workers who are above the age of 55 years was as per the law, the management should also have laid off other 27 employees as well who were also 55 years old," said Bhatta. The workers warned if the management did not introduce uniform and fair rules for all employees, they will again take to the streets.
Ishwor Pariyar, president of Nepal Industrial Workers´ Association (NIWA), Gorakhali unit, said if the management fails to implement the new pact, the workers will again protest. He said the workers should be allowed to work till the age of 60 years as per the company rule.
According to the regulations of Gorakhali Tyre Industry, a worker is eligible to work till the age of 60 years. "We want the management to treat all workers fairly and as per the company´s rules," said Pariyar.
Shital Kaji Shrestha, general manager of the industry, however, clarified that the laid-off workers can´t be taken back.
"We can´t bring the laid-off workers back to work but if we need any staff in future, we will give priority to their family members," said Shrestha.
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