The popular Italian pizza outlet ´Fire and Ice´ at Thamel has been closed since August 10 because of labor problems. Established in 1995 with foreign investment, it was closed earlier also -- about two years ago -- because of similar reasons. This time around, the management was forced to close down the restaurant after the Maoist affiliated All Nepal Hotel Workers´ Association started a dispute over appointment of a new restaurant manager.

Annamaria Forgione, managing director of Fire and Ice, said members of the association along with its president manhandled some employees and misbehaved with the management. She said it is very tragic to close down the restaurant at a time when the management was planning to expand it.

The management held talks with employees on Monday after meeting officials of Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal (REBAN).

“Most of the employees didn´t come for the talk as the association had also organized a program coinciding with our talks,” she said.

The management is looking for alternatives so that the restaurant can be restrarted.

´We can´t resume operation before fixing the problem permanently´

What was the reason for the shut-down?

I was in Kolkata at the other outlet of Fire and Ice. When I came back from there, we had a new manager. We were serving seven groups when three union men asked all employees to stop serving. When some employees refused to obey them, they started being violent. We had to take help of the police to prevent the situation from being more violent. They could protest if we had fired somebody from the job but to hire an employee is our right and we need not be consulting the association.

It´s nearly a month since the restaurant has been shut down. What is the reason for not resuming the operations as yet?

This is the second time that we have closed down. I don´t want to bring it out because I want to maintain low profile and I am also confident to resolve the issue. But it seems it is getting worse. We are getting support from REBAN and the central labor union has condemned the workers´ act. We can´t operate restaurant without ensuring security of our staff including those in the management. This time we want the problem to be permanently resolved.

Have you approached any government authority?

It´s not that the government is not supporting us. We have had their support. Police came to rescue us when we called them. Most labor laws and even department of labor are pro-labor and we really can´t expect much. The major problem is there is no legal support. When I am following all the laws, it´s natural for me to expect the law to make the environment to operate the business. This is completely illegal strike and the authority concerned should support us.

How do you think the problem will be resolved? What would be your next step?

I am working hard to resume the operation. Despite these problems I would like to continue the business. We have been convincing our employees but there are some association leaders with whom we really can´t continue to work. The way they treat us we feel that they have some strong back-up and I wonder what it would be. We are paying employees a better salary and taking care of their personal problems. Nepal has huge potential and requires good investment for its prosperity. But in the condition like this, any new investor would hesitate to make an entry.

Published on: 6 September 2011 | Republica