To launch protest against the govt decision after Dashain

Trade unions associated with UCPN-Maoist and Madhesi parties have criticised the government nod to ‘No Work No Pay’ and commitment to stop industrial strikes for next four years. 

Central Labour Advisory Committee meeting hold on Friday, under chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr Babu Ram Bhattrai, has endorsed the provisions to maintain industrial peace.

The decision of committee is against workers, so trade unions will not obey it, joint press statement of eight trade unions read.

“Adaptation of ‘No Work No Pay’, ‘Hire and Fire’ and restriction in strikes shows that Dr Bhattrai government is not workers friendly and,” they said.

The trade unions, signatory of April 16 agreement with Ministry of Labour and Transport Management, are against the decision and planning to protest following Dashain. “We will launch protest immediately after Dashain,” said Badri Bajagai, member of All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), adding that they are discussing on nature of their protest.

ANTUF has divided in to three fractions and Bajagai has been leading an ultra-leftist section of workers while Lal Dhoj Newang has been leading a small section. These fraction had formed about one year ago following dispute with ANTUF leader Shalikram Jamma Kattel.

However, the UCPN-Maoist has banned all fractions and appointed Posta Bahadur Bogati as coordinator of ANTUF to solve disputes in the trade unions some five months ago.

Central Labour Advisory Committee meeting has endorsed March 24 agreement among three major trade unions­ General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), National Trades Union Congress and ANTUF led by Shalikram Jamma Kattel­ Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of Nepalese Industries.

The March 24 agreement has 11 points including `No Work No Pay', `Hire and Fire', industrial peace year and social security allowances for workers. Two fractions of ANTUF led by Bajagai and Newang, and Madhesi trade unions had protested for a week in April against the agreement.

Their protest had ended with April 16 agreements, which later published in the government gazette in May.

Published on: 2 October 2011 | The Himalayan Times