124th May Day marked

KATHMANDU, MAY 1--Workers and trade unions across the country marked the 124th International Labour Day on Wednesday, organising separate rallies and programmes. On the occasion, they also made their common demand for implementation of long planned social security schemes for workers.

All 11 trade unions including the three major ones— the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), Nepal Trade Union Congress-Independent (NTUC-I) and All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF) organised separate progarmmes to observe the day. The big trade unions programmes organised in different parts of the country were addressed by senior leaders of political parties.

In Kathmandu, the ANTUF has organised an assembly at Bhrikutimandap. The NTUC-I oranised rally and conversed into assembly at Shantibatika, Ratna Park. Ram Sharan Mahat, Central member of the Nepali Congress and former Finance Minister addressing the gathering said that the only the better coordination between the workers and employers would lead to economic revolution in the country.


The participants of the May Day events said that the basic rights of workers have not been established even though it had been long time of the beginning of trade union movement in the country. The unions said they have long been demanding that the government ensure their 10 percent representation in state mechanism through the new constitution and implementation of social security schemes, according to the trade unions.

GEFONT has stated that the social security for all was the main agenda of trade unions. The government has around Rs 4 billion in the Social Security Fund, however; it has not been able to use it for workers’ welfare as there is no act to govern the unilisation of fund. The trade unions have underscored the need of introducing the act through an ordinance at the earliest.

Under the labour reform package, the government has been preparing bring seven new Acts and policies, including the Labour Act, Labour Policy, Social Security Fund Act, Trade Union Act and Unemployment Benefit Act, among others. However; they have been limited only in drafts till date for the absense of the elected parliament.

Trade unions have also said that the government should also increase the salary of workers, civil servants, and workers from formal and informal sector based on the the rising inflation rate. A tripartite committee comprising government officials and representative from employers’ organizations and trade unions has been working out to review the workers salary within next two months. Going by the existing Labour Law, salary of the workers has to be increased in every two years. Last time, the minimum salary has hiked to Rs 6,200 in March 2011.