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| Kathmandu, Monday January 13, 2003 Paush 29, 2059. |
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NTUC not to accept any change in labour
laws
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Jan 12:Office bearers of Nepal Trade Union
Congress (NTUC) speaking at a press meet today said that the union would not accept any
changes in labour laws that the government would promulgate.
"Only the parliament that endorsed the labour Act and
regulations has the right to amend them," they said. They also blamed the government
of making preparations to amend various legislation to curb labourers’ rights to be
organised.
Stating that the government is conspiring against the
labourers and trying to annul the labourers constitutional right to be organised they
said, "Changes in any regulations and system should be promulgated through formal
channel and process."
Laxman Basnet, President of the NTUC even urged for the
restoration of Parliament to provide outlet to the current political deadlock. "Only
the elected government has the credibility necessary for holding talks with the
Maoists," he said.
He also lambasted the government for ‘conspiring’
to provide the rights to ‘hire and fire’ to employers. "If the government
provides ‘hire and fire’ rights to employers, hundreds of additional workers
will lose their jobs," he said.
"Pledging of rights to hire and fire in the current
harsh situation will add adversity to the workers who are already passing through a
painful time due to slump in economy and business, among others," he said.
A press release issued on the occasion states that thousands
of workers have already lost their means to earn bread and butter after the imposition of
state of emergency in the country. "While more industries are in the state of closing
down any time, labourers are facing more threat of losing their jobs," it states.
Stating that the ongoing Maoist insurgency has claimed the
lives of over 200 employees associated with the NTUC alone, the release stresses for a
need to solve the Maoist problem through talks.
The NTUC office bearers, speaking on the occasion, asked the
government to review the existing privatisation policy. "The government should
include the trade unions while changing the present privatisation policy, which largely is
based on ‘guess work’," they said.
They further demanded with the government to revive the sick
industries and lay thrust on their operation rather than liquidation, they added. They
even asked the government to upgrade the existing minimum wages that the government has
fixed. Currently, the minimum wage fixed by the government is Rs 2,116 per month.
"This sum is not enough for a person to earn his bread," they said.
"Changes is also sought on the ground that the existing
regulations clearly call for changes in minimum wages in every two years and it is already
over three years since the government reviewed the wages last," said Basnet.
Referring to the forthcoming third national convention of the
NTUC, Basnet said that the convention would discuss on changing the union’s
administrative set up. "Such a change will be introduced through changes in the union’s
constitution, which is currently being worked upon. This is aimed at giving the NTUC
management a decentralised shape."
He also informed that the existing leadership of the trade
union, in its effort to strengthen the labourers’ voice, would propose for the
establishment of single trade union in the country. "The proposal is based on the
concept of labour parliament which will secure proper representation of all the views in
the single institution," he said.
"The NTUC had been discussing on the matter with the
General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT). If the convention gives green
signal, necessary steps to constitute the single trade union will taken immediately,"
he said.
According to the press release, over 1,000 delegates from all
75 districts and 20 member organisations of the NTUC would be attending the convention.
The convention, which is being held a year later than its scheduled date due to imposition
of the state of emergency last year, is slated to be held from February 23 to 25 in
Biratnagar.
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