At least two industries located in the Pathlaiya-Birgunj industrial corridor are resuming production from tomorrow. Parsa-based Necon Kelly Industries and Simara-based Hama Iron Industries are most likely to resume production from tomorrow‚ after agitating workers’ unions and the management committee reached an agreement to this effect today.

The management agreed to pay the salary structure demanded by the workers. The workers had been protesting for the past eight days demanding equal increments in salary at all levels.

Beni Timalsina‚ an agitating worker said‚ “Industries, where negotiations have succeeded, will resume from tomorrow.” However‚ he added that the agitation would continue in other industries where they are yet to reach an agreement. As many as 14 industries in the corridor have been shut since August 5 after the workers’ unions resorted to agitation demanding at least Rs 1‚800 salary hike applicable at all levels. A total of nine industries in the corridor will remain closed due to failure to reach an agreement between the agitating unions and the management side though attempts are being made to hold talks.

Hulas Steel‚ Hanuman Metal‚ Triveni Spinning‚ Triveni Textile‚ among others‚ have stopped production for the past eight days. The talks between workers and the management committee of Triveni Spinning weren’t successful yesterday as well.

Akshaya Kumar‚ All Nepal Trade Union central members said they failed to reach an agreement after both sides refused to budge from their stances. However‚ they are trying to negotiate‚ he said.

Meanwhile, ‚ talks scheduled for today between the committee of agitating unions and FNCCI Birgunj couldn’t be held today.

In the meantime ‚ Ashok Baidhya‚ FNCCI Birgunj Chairperson said that they didn’t sit for dialogue as the talks between the agitating workers and entrepreneurs were heading in a positive direction.

Published on: 13 August 2013 | The Himalayan Times