A week after the minimum wage of the industrial workers was determined under a tripartite agreement, supposed industrial peace is being threatened by All Nepal Revolutionary Trade Union Federation (ANRTUF),

The federation, which was not part of the deal, on Wednesday announced a two-day strike on Thursday and Friday against the Minimum Wage Determination Committee’s decision to set the minimum wage at Rs 8,000 per month against its demand of Rs 15,000. The committee determined a daily wage at Rs 318 against its demand of Rs 700.

In its press release, the ANRTUF has also warned of an indefinite strike if its 25-point demand, including the higher wage hike, is not fulfilled.

In response, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) asked the trade union concerned to annul its decision stating that such a protest would not only disturb the employer-employees relationship but also violate industrial peace and security in the country.

The disgruntled trade union said that all the industrial units would be shut down during the two-day strike. As a prelude to the strike, the trade union picketed several industrial estates and organised corner meets on Wednesday.

ANRTUF Coordinator Ram Deep Acharya said that the government and the private sector underlooked their concerns and negotiated with the trade unions that were not serious about the interest of workers while excluding their unions from the negotiating table.

The Minimum Wage Determination Committee comprises the government, employers and Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre representing 11 trade unions but there was no representative from the ANRTUF. The committee had increased the minimum wage by 29 percent on May 27.

Pashupathi Murarka, chairman of Employers’ Council (EC) at the FNCCI, said the agitating trade union and the government should resolve the matter without disturbing the industrial operation.

He also said despite their request to include all the trade unions during the negotiation, the government failed to do so, thus inviting a trouble.

Achut Pandey, general secretary of the Nepal Trade Union Congress said the ANRTUF protest would have no impact as all major 11 trade unions have agreed to the government-introduced pay structure. “The protest programme itself is ethically wrong as the ANRTUF has not been legally recognised.”

Krishna Hari Puskar, director general at the Department of Labour (DoL), also echoed Pandey saying that the ANRTUF had not been included in the negotiation process as it does not have any legal status. “Its protest will have no impact at all as all other trade unions are content with the newly revised wage package,” Puskar said, warning that the trade union would be brought to book if it is found of disturbing the industrial peace and obstructing operation..

Published on: 6 June 2013 | The Kathmandu Post