In a fresh case of worsening industrial relations in the country, Maoist-affiliated Nepal Multinational Companies´ Workers Union (NMCWU) at Surya Nepal has threatened to shut down the country´s largest tobacco manufacturing company from Monday, if the management did not fulfill its demands.

The union has submitted 11-point demand to the management. It announced the strike after majority of its members voted to go for the strike in case the management did not heed their demands.

“We have already informed our decision to the labor office and the company management,” said Devendra Sitaula, senior member of the workers´ union, who also took part in talks with the management.

He informed Republica that the workers were demanding the management to raise basic salary by Rs 2,500, double the life insurance cover to Rs 200,000 and pay Rs 1 million in gratuity at the time of retirement. The union has also demanded the management to deposit 2 percent of its annual profit in the workers welfare fund and provide permanent job to next of kin in case the workers died while working.

The union has also demanded with the management to allocate 50 percent of total vacant jobs to the offspring of workers, provide grant to the workers to construct houses and increase the retirement age to 58 from existing 55 years, among others.

Surya Nepal staff said that the workers and the management had sat for rounds of talks in the presence of representatives of local labor office. But the talks failed to settle the differences.

During the talks, the management had offered to pay them Rs 1,600 in addition to perks and benefits they were enjoying now. But union officials refused the offer.

“We want the management to address our demands in a package. We will not agree on a piecemeal deal,” said Sitaula.

Meanwhile, Surya Nepal has knocked on the doors of the Department of Labor as well as Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry to settle the problem.

Man Bahadur BK, director general of the Department of Labor, said the department has taken up Surya Nepal´s request seriously. “We will forward the request to Labor Relations Improvement Committee and take immediate steps to avoid the looming shutdown,” he added.

Published on: 29 March 2012 | Republica