KATHMANDU, March 29: Nepal Film Technicians Association (NEFTA) is going to implement the shift system in filming with effect from April 14.
The umbrella organization of film technicians has decided to allow technicians to work by prescribing a 12-hour shift system from that date.
President Pushkar Lama said that looking at the practices of workers working in the international film industry such a system is going to be implemented in Nepal as well. According to the system, now Nepali technicians will now have to work according to a 12-hour schedule from 7 am to 7 pm and from 9 am to 9 pm.
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The director will have to pay extra wages to the technician if they have to work overtime. This decision was taken by the recently held working committee meeting of NEFTA. "We have been preparing to start this practice since 2076 BS. But the system could not be implemented due to Covid-19 pandemic," President Lama said. "We have brought this rule by looking at the current situation and business of the film.”
President Lama also said that NEFTA will cooperate with related bodies like Nepal Film Producers Association (NFPA) and Motion Picture Association to implement the shift system. In the foreign film industry, an eight-hour rule is in practice.
NEFTA has also introduced another rule that foreign films whose shooting will take place in Nepal must have 65 percent Nepali technicians and there is a requirement to cooperate with NEFTA while filming in Nepal.
From April 14, technicians who do not register and cooperate with NEFTA will not be able to work and will not even get facilities from the association. "Keeping in mind the rights and safety of the technicians, we are going to bring this rule to minimize the problems that occur every day," President Lama said. We hope that making the rule that technicians having a card will only be able to work will be easier for both the technician and the director.
Lama has made the rights of technicians and the internationalization of films as the main agenda. Apart from this, he has other plans such as bringing technicians under the scope of social security, enhancing the capabilities of technicians and finding markets for Nepali films abroad through awards.
