Ajit Tiwari

CLOSURE OF SURYA NEPAL'S GARMENT UNIT

The dangerous brinkmanship between workers and Surya Nepal management has left both sides deeply bruised. A job with the largest apparel manufacturers in the country was certainly a matter of pride and more, the workers are finally realising now that their unmindful actions have irritated the management beyond reconciliation. For Surya Nepal, it´s a loss too big to calculate in terms of money as it said it lost all foreign orders because of the stand-off between the workers and the management.

But simple people like Sunita Rajbanshi, who worked in the stitching unit of the factory, things have gone horribly wrong. Without work and regular income during strike and subsequent stand-off, life had already become difficult for her but she was sure the company will resume operations one day and she will be back at her work, giving those finishing touches to brands like John Players and Springwood that set them apart from the rest.

So, she neither grieved for the closure nor complained against management, even though she managed her daily needs through loans. But her small world seemed to be crashing down on Thursday when senior officials of the company called a meeting and informed the workers that they are closing the factory - permanently.

"Now how will I manage food and other basic needs?" Rajbanshi questions. Not only Rajbanshi, most of the 700 workers who lost their jobs are now lamenting. Children´s school fees and rent for accommodation are two immediate worries, which surely will multiply in coming days.

Our livelihood has been snatched, workers said in an appeal to the factory management, asking to review the decision and reopen the factory.

"Leave alone other obligations, I am worried how I will repay the loans that I have taken in last two months," Rajbanshi asks.

Other workers are ruing their decision to go by the strike call given by All Nepal Trade Union Federation-Revolutionary to increase pay and other incentives, which eventually cost them their jobs. "Workers had supported the union leaders for perk and benefits, not for losing jobs," Rajbanshi says. "The management cannot abandon us this way," she added.

"Hundreds of families like mine were relying solely on the factory for livelihood. The decision has jolted us," said Nilam Dhungel, another worker at the factory.

While individual workers are feeling the heat of losing their jobs, union leaders do not seem to be affected much by the closure decision. After the management formally informed the workers about the decision, the workers gathered in the factory premises in a large number on Friday and appealed the management to reopen the factory.

But trade union leaders have launched a new protest program that will continue till August 28, which they said will gradually intensify if the management does not respond positively to their demand to reopen the factory. They charged the management with duping the workers.

"The management repeatedly promised it will resume operations. But now it says the factory is being shut down permanently. The company fooled us," said Uma Koirala, president of Independent Textile Garment Workers Union - Nepal.

Workers disclosed to the Republica that over 300 workers have formally written to the management expressing their readiness to instantly return to work if the management reopens the factory. They expressed surprise over the management opting to shut down the factory despite such support from workers.

"The decision to shut down the factory even after punishing the unruly workers is unfair," said Binda Paudel, another worker, lamenting that loss of job will badly affect her family.

However, Ravi KC, corporate vice-president of Surya Nepal, clarified that the company was not changing its decision.

Published on: 20 August 2011 | Republica