Employers, trade unions start preparation for remuneration talks
Employers and trade unions have begun internal preparations to set agenda for the upcoming talks to fix minimum remuneration of workers.
Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) has already asked employers to nominate their representatives in Minimum Wage Fixation Committee (MWFC) to fix the minimum remuneration (salary and allowance) of workers and formulate the process to hold talks between employers and workers to settle disputes.
The tripartite panel will have representations from the government, employers and trade unions.
“We will nominate our representatives in the committee by Wednesday,” Pashupati Murarka, vice-president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), told Republica on Tuesday. “We will soon fix our agenda for the upcoming minimum wage fixing meeting.”
Murarka said one representative each from FNCCI, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) would be nominated in the committee.
Similarly, the Joint Trade Union Coordination Center (JTUCC) -- a common platform of country´s seven major trade unions - is holding a meeting on Wednesday to finalize their agenda for the upcoming minimum wage fixation committee meeting.
Formal talks will be held once the government publishes the names of the members of the committee in the Gazette.
“The JTUCC meeting will urge both the government and the employers to clarify whether they want to fix flat rate across the country or go for collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which determines salary amount in consultation with trade unions,” said Bishnu Rimal, president of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GFONT). “The talk would have no meaning if the agenda is only to review the minimum pay.”
Rimal said they want to see salary raised in a reasonable way. “Pay should be hiked either through collective bargaining or by fixing minimum salary applicable in all enterprises across the country,” Rimal said, adding, “The government and employers should clearly say which option they would like to choose.”
If employers prefer the CBA system, Rimal said they have to designate the official trade union by holding election at the earliest.
As per the existing provision, trade union representing more than 51 percent of the workers of the particular enterprises will be authorized to hold dialogue under CBA in the absence of elected official trade union.
Minimum remuneration of workers has to be increased every two years keeping in view inflation and other factors. Three major trade unions -- All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), Nepal Trade Union Congress (Independent) and GFONT -- had signed an agreement with employers to increase minimum salary by Rs 1,500 to Rs 6,200 per month and daily wage by Rs 31 to Rs 226 on March 24, 2011.
The government, however, raised minimum daily wage to Rs 231 later on following pressure from a faction of ANTUF and other trade union affiliated to fringe political parties.
“This time we are for increasing salary on the basis of inflation rate calculated by the government,” Murarka said.
ANTUF has already stated that it would push for minimum remuneration of Rs 12,000 per month.
Published on: 27 March 2013 | Republica
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