Most of the employers have agreed to implement the new wage structure for workers despite the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry´s (FNCCI) - the apex business body in the country - circular against implementing the new pay structure. As a result, the nationwide industrial strike had minimal impact in industrial estates on Sunday.[break]
Representatives of trade unions said they did not enforce the closure strictly, as most of the employers agreed to fulfill their demand following the declaration of industrial shutdown. The trade unions, however, have promised not to affect regular operation of factories that have already implemented new pay structure as published in the Nepal Gazette on May 24.
Issuing a notice in Nepal Gazette on May 24, the government fixed minimum monthly salary of workers at Rs 6,200 and daily wage at Rs 231.
Two factions of Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF) led by Badri Bajgain and Lal Dhoj Nembang and Madesh-based trade unions had launched the strike on July 22 after FNCCI issued a circular to its members, instructing them not to implement monthly wage fixed by the government.
FNCCI has been insisting that wage package that it and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) agreed with three trade unions on March 24 be implemented. In the agreement, employers had agreed to provide minimum monthly salary of Rs 6,100 and daily wage of Rs 226.
“We allowed factories that have implemented the government-set wage package operated unhindered on Sunday,” said Lal Dhoj Nembang, coordinator of All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF). He, however, said the shutdown will continue unless all employers are ready to fulfill their demand.
Bipin Kumar Karna, central secretary of Madhesh Trade Union Forum Nepal (MTUFN), situation in Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor remained normal throughout the day. “Most of the factories in the eastern region have agreed to fulfill our demands. We won´t hamper their normal functioning,” Karna added. He also said the MTUFN has formed a panel to collect names of factories that are yet to fulfill the workers´ demands.
According to Surya Baral, a central member of ANTUF, around a dozen factories in Chitwan, including RR Feed Company, Yam Yam Noodles Company and Chitawon Milks, remained closed on the day.
Senior vice president of FNCCI Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar said local employers agreed to implement new pay structure due to undue pressure from trade union representatives.
“The March 24 pact addresses all the demands raised by the workers, including the social security schemes,” Rajkarnikar said, adding, “The government has created a problem by bypassing the March 24 pact.”
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