Implement agreement: Disgruntled trade unions

BIRATNAGAR, April 21: Madhesi Trade Union Forum (MTUF) along with 10 trade unions have warned of a nationwide industrial strike if employers did not implement latest agreement on minimum wage five disgruntled trade unions signed with Ministry of Labor.



The trade unions issued the threat after Employers Council of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) refused to implement the agreement signed on April 15. "We will shut down the industries nationwide if the employers did not implement the agreement," said Bipin Karna, secretary of MTUF.[break]



Industrialists and other employers have refused to validate the agreement, citing that Minister for Labor Top Bahadur Rayamajhi took the decision on wage hike unilaterally without consulting them.



Under the agreement, Minister Rayamajhi had promised to increase monthly wage by Rs 500 and allowances by Rs 1,100, thereby, raising total monthly wage to Rs 6,200 from Rs 4,600.



Likewise, he had committed to fix minimum daily wage at Rs 231. The minister agreed that the monthly wage was higher by Rs 100 and daily wage by Rs 5 than what the FNCCI had agreed with three big trade unions: All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GFONT) and Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC).



"We won´t accept the agreement as it was reached unilaterally, whereas existing laws clearly require involvement of employers in such crucial negotiations," said Mahesh Kumar Jaju, an executive member of FNCCI .



However, MTUF, Badri Bajagain- and Laldhoj Nembang-led factions of ANTUF, Nepal Inclusive Trade Union, Independent Democratic Inclusive Trade Union, Nepal Progressive Madhesi Factory Forum, All Nepal Industrial Workers Union-Maoist, Joint Workers Protest Committee of Morang-Sunsari and Bara-Parsa and Rautahat are exerting pressure for the implementation of the agreement.



"We will take strong step to get our demand fulfilled," said Karna.



The disgruntled trade unions that refused to recognize agreement FNCCI signed with big three trade unions had shut down the industries located along Birgunj-Pathalaiya and Morang-Sunsari corridor for more than a week. They had withdrawn the strike after Minister Rayamajhi unilaterally promised to fulfill their demands.

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