KATHMANDU, Sept 7: The private sector has urged the government to allow businesses to operate by maintaining the safety protocols prescribed by the government against COVID-19.

In a meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday, representatives of three private sector umbrella organizations - Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Nepalese Industries and Nepal Chamber of Commerce - put forth their concern over the crippling business environment created due to the five months long lockdown.

According to them, the economy will have to face a big setback if a similar lockdown is imposed for a longer time period. “As a large number of people have already been laid off amid the present crisis, people are likely to suffer more from the heavy fall in their incomes than the threat of COVID-19,” said the private sector representatives.

They also urged the government to take 33 percent of the liability of the employees’ salary and to provide loans at 50 percent subsidized interest rate to the small and medium businesses. The entrepreneurs also sought an effective coordination among the three layers of government to address the problems created by the current difficult situation.  

 
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