Eleven trade unions united under the Joint Trade Union Coordination Committee (JTUCC) will launch a collective bargaining campaign in the industrial sector from June 14. Trade unions have the right to collective bargaining every two years according to Clause 74 of the Labour Act.

JTUCC will start a campaign for a hike in the salary of experienced workers according to the law, said president of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions Bishnu Rimal. “This time the campaign will start on June 14 across the country,” he said, adding that it will set an organised trend for collective bargaining.
According to Rimal, trade unions will put forth their demands to employers and the hike will be set in mutual understanding. “JTUCC will lead the campaign, so there will be no chances of any confrontation and labour dispute,” he said. “But the employers also have to support the move.”

Employers — Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) — have agreed to the process with some suspicion. “All trade unions and workers must agree to the demands presented to employers,” said president of Employers’ Council of FNCCI Pashupati Murarka referring to trade unions’ proposal that 51 per cent workers will sign the demand.
It may cause problems for employers. Therefore, there should be consensus among all trade unions. “Small trade unions may also cause disturbances,” he said. Currently, the trade union affiliated to the CPN-Maoist has started protests across the country against the recent minimum wage hike. They have also resorted to vandalism.

The government had the hiked minimum wage of workers last week from Rs 6,200 per month to Rs 8,000 per month. Similarly, daily wage has been hiked from Rs 231 to Rs 318. But the CPN-Maoist has been asking for a minimum monthly wage of Rs 15,000, and Rs 700 as daily wage.

Basanta Mishra of CNI said if trade unions accept minimum wage hike based on Consumer Price Index then it will better industrial relation. “But hike should be every two years,” he said, adding employers and trade unions should explore a scientific formula for collective bargaining too.

The government is also in favour of the latest campaign that JTUCC is planning to launch. “There has been better understanding between workers and employers in recent years. Therefore, the campaign should be started to build confidence between the two parties,” said joint secretary at the ministry of labour and employment Dhan Bahadur Shrestha. Collective bargaining every two years is the workers’ right, he added.
During collective bargaining, workers seek hike in other benefits like gratuity, bonus and provident fund. The demand for social security schemes are also included.

Published on: 9 June 2013 | Nagarik