Roshan Sedhai, Ashok Thapa

The 123rd International Workers’ Day is being celebrated in Nepal on Tuesday against a backdrop of relatively improved employer-worker relation.

Apart from the permanent closure of Surya Nepal’s garment unit in Biratnagar and seven-day tension at Unilever Nepal, there have not been any major cases of industrial dispute in the last year.

One of the last year’s remarkable achievements has been trade unions’ and employers’ realisation that smooth employer-worker relation is vital for attaining economic growth. This has resulted in a sharp decline in strikes/bandas by unions. “In the last one year, the country saw just eight days of strikes called by workers, whereas strikes organised by other groups were for 78days,” said Bishnu Rimal, president of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Union (GEFONT). “This shows that worker unions are committed to peaceful negotiation.”

Pashupathi Murarka, chairman of the Employers’ Council at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), echoed Rimal. In the last six-eight months, trade unions have shown flexibility when it comes to resolving labour disputes, according to Murarka.

Salikram Jammekattel, leader of the All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), said unions’ are increasingly giving priority to negotiation and talks over strikes. “We became successful in increasing wages, and most importantly, and we did that peacefully,” said Jammakattel. The successful negotiations on minimum wage hike and dispute between workers and management of Himal Power Limited are some examples of improving employee-employer relation.

With the country expecting political stability after the completion of the constitution writing process, employers hope further improvement in industrial relation. Murarka said the success of the upcoming Nepal Investment Year will depend on how workers and their unions maintain professionalism at their work place. “Time has come for workers to focus on productivity,” said Murarka.

This year, four important bills/policies on labour issue are in the offing. The government, under its Labour Reform Package, is working on the Labour Policy, Social Security Act, Bonus Policy and Trade Union Act. “These acts/policies will bring all organised and unorganised workers together. This will be a milestone reform in the sector,” said Jammakattel. The enactment of Social Security Act will make operational the Social Security Fund. Once the fund comes into effect, three social security schemes—insurance coverage for maternity, workplace accident, and health hazards—will be provided to industrial workers.

However, the major upsetting factor for the private sector has been the possible split or rift within political parties, and splinter factions’ tendency to set up separate unions. The hardliner faction of the UCPN (Maoist) is organising a separate programme on Tuesday, besides the establishment side’s programme.

FNCCI, CNI urge joint efforts

Kathmandu: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), the two apex bodies of the private sector, have urged joint efforts for improving labour relation and sustainable economic growth. In a press statement on the occasion of the May Day, FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya said there is a need for collaboration between employees and employers to implement past pacts and to execute policy-level and legal reforms. CNI President Binod Chaudhary said both the sides should move forward rectifying their weaknesses.

Published on: 1 May 2012 | The Kathmandu Post