Somnath Bastola

The ongoing industrial shutdown in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor has hit daily-wage labourers hard.

Reeling under the UCPNMaoist-called strike for four days, the workers have urged the trade union leaders to withdraw the strike.

Motilal Sardar, employee of a factory in Khanar, said, “We don’t know how we will manage bread and butter in the coming days.” Sardar’s coworker Mohammad Sajim accused the leaders of neglecting the concerns of menial labourers.

"They mobilise us in agitations against industrialists and make a quick buck," he said. "They shut the industries for a month in the past and made the owners cough up money, but the workers like us got nothing." Rabin Sardar of Sonapur said, "The agitation should continue without the closure of industries.” Only if we get to work will our right to survival can be guaranteed, he opined.

The agitating unions, however, seem adamant on their demands, including a 100 percent salary hike, job guarantee and permanent appointment of the workers

Published on: 29 March 2011 | The Himalayan Times