 |
|
| Kathmandu, Saturday December 14, 2002 Mangshir 28, 2059. |
|
EPC, Unlimited lock
horns
Trainees’ future hangs on balance
By Ram Sharan Sedhai
KATHMANDU, Dec 13:The ongoing dispute between
the Employment Promotion Commission (EPC) and the Unlimited Numedia, an IT company that
has signed a contract to train and recruit 1,500 youths in medical transcription (MT), has
led to the closure of the company’s three training centres in Kathmandu, Pokhara and
Itahari.
Both the EPC and the Unlimited Numedia are
trading charges against each other leaving the 1,000 plus trainees in utter confusion and
despair. The company blames the EPC for creating such an unpleasant situation by blocking
training fees of over Rs 4.6 million to the company for mid-June to mid-August till date.
Allen Tuladhar, Chief Executive Officer of the
Unlimited Numedia, blaming the EPC for not being serious enough to their problem right
from the beginning, cited example that the EPC had to pay Rs 15.90 million upon the
selection of trainees, but the commission paid it only after five months.
Similarly, we have not yet received the fees
amounting to over 4.6 million till date though the commission has approved respective
bills and reports of the training. "And, it is the main reason for the present mess
due to which the company has not been able to clear its dues," he said.
While Tuladhar cited financial crunch as the
main reason behind the closure of the training centres, Subarna Man Shrestha,
Member-Secretary of the EPC said that the company has so big a liability that the claimed
amount does meet it. "So it is a lame excuse," he argued.
"We have blocked the amount after finding
the training imparted in all the three centres unsatisfactory. Once the company resumes
the training smoothly, and submits reports as required, we will release the amount
immediately", he said.
The clauses on compensation in the contract
paper have been the bone of contention. Clause A states, "except for special
circumstances, the EPC shall release training fees to the company within 30 days of
submission of reports. And if the EPC fails to do so, it shall pay a compensation of 10
per cent of the amount per anum to the company. And the company shall not be held
responsible if the training is terminated midway due to delay in releasing such fees by
another 30 days."
However, Clause B states, "If the company
does not impart training partially or fully or stops midway or does not provide job to
successful candidates as guaranteed or does not abide by the clauses of the contract for
any reason, the company shall have to repay in lump sum the released amount to the
commission with 10 per cent interest."
However, Tuladhar said that the EPC has added
new provision transcending the boundary of the contract, which the company cannot meet.
According to him, the EPC, in its new directives, has asked the company either to deposit
bank guarantee or continue the training smoothly and only then the commission would
release the due amount.
While trainees said that they have not received
training as per the contract right from the beginning. They cited lack of required
computers and short training hours coupled with a delay of two months.
Mahesh Chalise, a trainee from Pokhara centre,
said that they were taught only one and a half-hours a day instead of seven hours due
mainly to lack of computers and they were not even interned after the completion of six
months training.
He said that they have apprised the EPC, the
National Planing Commission and the Prime Minister’s Office as the Prime Minister
heads the EPC of the problem as the company failed to live up to its word after repeated
verbal and written assurances.
Shrestha said that they are making every
possible effort to resume the operation of the company for providing jobs to deserving
students and added that the EPC is even considering providing some relief to the company.
The company should not stick to the one-point agenda and should be ready for amicable
solution, as we are flexible in the case, he added.
Tuladhar also said that he was ready to provide
job to the deserving students and pay compensation for the delayed two months once the
blocked amount is released.
The company had enrolled about 1,400 trainees
with a job guarantee after successful completion of their nine-month training as an MT.
Currently, there are 1,007 trainees including 331 in Pokhara, 295 in Kathmandu and 381 in
Itahari centres.
Other Stories
|
