Ashok Thapa

The months-long disputes between workers and employers, which has been a major cause of industrial unrests, might come to an end soon as leading trade unions and Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) on Thursday showed flexibility on matters related to pay and hiring system.

FNCCI, the apex business representative body, agreed to pay a minimum monthly salary of Rs 6,200 and daily wage of Rs 231 as demanded by the trade unions and as announced by the government through a gazette on May 15.

FNCCI and three major trade unions--General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF)--had met on Thursday to thrash out their differences on the eve of the meeting of Central Labor Advisory Committee (CLAC) scheduled to be held on Friday. Earlier, FNCCI had been officially refusing to pay the remuneration as demanded by the trade unions.

Reciprocating with FNCCI´s flexibility, the workers unions agreed to abide by the spirit of the bilateral pact signed on March 24 that envisages four-year industrial peace, no-work-no-pay, hire and fire as well as limitation on participation in political activities by workers, among others. Both FNCCI and trade unions have also agreed to press the government for prompt implementation of the social security package mentioned in the deal as well as to take serious initiatives to implement the Act related to social security of workers.

“It is a major breakthrough in resolving the months-long industrial dispute. We are going to propose what has been agreed at CLAC meeting on Friday to get it endorsed,” said a senior office bearer of FNCCI.
In a bid to pave the way for amicable solution of the problem, the FNCCI has also agreed to withdraw the case filed at Supreme Court (SC) against the government announced pay package. 

Dharmendra Kumar Singh, president of NTUC said that the CLAC meeting will resolve all the differences and dilemmas prevailing in the industrial sector of the country. “We have made a preliminary agreement with FNCCI as groundwork for the meeting. We hope the meeting will be a success and guide the employers-workers relationship to a better path.”Responding to the FNCCI and trade unions´ request to arrange a meeting of CLAC, Ministry of Labor and Transport Management (MoLTM)--the ministry responsible for implementation--has called the Friday´s meeting.

As the government hasn´t appointed a Minister for Labor and Transport Management, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai himself is scheduled to chair the meeting.

Published on: 30 September 2011 | Republica