“We couldn´t forge any agreement as our talks centered on ways to raise workers´ productivity,” said Ramesh Badal, a negotiator of the UML-affiliated General Federation of Nepalese Trade Union (GEFONT).[break]
During the meeting, the employers sought the commitment of central trade union leaders to discourage increasing involvement of workers in political activities.
Wednesday´s meeting was the first between the employers and the unions after the trade unions announced fresh protest plans, including nationwide transportation and industrial strike, to mount pressure on employers.
Both the sides have decided to resume talks on Friday.
FNCCI had agreed to sit at the negotiation table after the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF) withdrew its decision to shutdown industries inside Hetauda Industrial Estate, a condition set by the FNCCI to resume talks.
During the previous negotiations, trade unions had demanded the employers to raise remuneration of workers by 60 percent. However, the employers had floated the proposal of hiking salary by 23.7 percent, citing adverse business climate in the country.
Three major trade unions in the country -- ANTUF, GEFONT and NC-affiliated Nepal Trade Union Congress - are on warpath, affecting industrial operation since Feb 9, putting forth demands to raise monthly salary of workers to Rs 10,000 and daily wage to Rs 400.
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