RAVI DAHAL

A dialogue held between the agitating worker unions and representatives of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), aimed to resume operations in as many as 14 industries in the Bara-Parsa industrial corridor that have been closed down for the past three days ended inconclusively here, in Birgunj, today.

They failed to forge a consensus as the union leaders remained adamant on their demand for an increment in salary of workers at all levels by at least Rs 1800. According to the coordinator of the Joint Trade Union Coordination Committee Suresh Gupta, they have, however, agreed to continue with the next round of talks on Sunday.

During the discussions, the chairperson of FNCCI Birgunj chapter Ashok Baidhya had proposed to hike the salary as per the capacity of the industry after consulting the workers’ unions. He informed that the union leaders and industrialists failed to come to a compromise due to their respective stands.

Coordinator of Federation of All Nepal Trade Union Bhojpura Min Prasad Apagain said that FNCCI is inching closer towards addressing the demands of the workers and today’s meeting concluded with an agreement to hold another round of talks on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Baidhya said that the dialogue between the management and the worker union of Hanuman Metals was moving ahead positively. Similarly, the management committees of Triveni Group and Golchha Organisation held talks with their union members on Thursday and they are inching closer towards a consensus.

Published on: 9 August 2013 | The Himalayan Times