The central committee of the Maoist-aligned All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF) on Wednesday condemned the government’s move to endorse the new salary provision terming it ‘unilateral’.
The union has demanded that the government increase workers’ basic salary by Rs 1,050 to Rs 4,100 and dearness allowance by Rs 550 to Rs 2,100 to make the monthly minimum monthly salary Rs 6,200
a month.
“If the government undermines our demand, we will be forced to launch a decisive nationwide movement,” reads an ANTUF press release undersigned by its coordinator Post Bahadur Bogati.
However, Minister for Labour and Transport Management Mohammad Ishtiaq Rai ruled out any possibility of changes to the new provision. He termed the demand of employers and some dissatisfied trade unions to correct the new salary provision ‘baseless’.
Employers’ organisations—the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chambers of Commerce (NCC)—have demanded that the government correct its approval for the new salary provision and hike the pay based on the 11-point agreement they reached with three major trade unions on March 24. “A notice has already been already published in the Nepal Gazette and there is no chance for any changes,” said Rai.
On Monday, the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management had formally fixed the new salary for workers based on the agreement reached on April 16 with seven trade unions, including two warring factions of the ANTUF, and Madhesh-based political parties affiliated trade unions.
Badri Bajgai, coordinator of ANTUF close to Maoist leader Mohan Baidya, said the demand of the union’s central committee is a plot to disrupt implementation of the new salary provision. “We will strongly retaliate against forces standing against workers’ pay hike,” he said.
Publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette, the ministry had increased workers salary from Rs 4,600 to Rs 6,200 (basic salary Rs 3,550 and dearness allowance of Rs 2,650) and daily wage from Rs 190 to Rs 231.
For the first time, the government also decided to bring all workers in the social security system.
Rai said the government endorsed the new salary provision following consultations with all stakeholders.
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