Committee urges to protect investors‚ workers interest
KATHMANDU:
Finance and Labour Relation Committee of Legislative Parliament suggested the government to protect investors and workers — both — interest, while permitting a industry to close.
A report of the committee also blamed Surya Nepal management for its garment wing closure. “Surya Nepal’s garment unit was not closed following labour disputes,” said Shanti Basnet Adhikari, in the committee, submitting the field report today.
“Labour dispute was only a seen factor,” she said, adding that management wanted to close the garment unit and blamed the workers.
Surya Nepal’s garment wing was closed in September following three-month long dispute between management and workers.
Supporting the workers, the committee said that strike is a means of collective bargaining of the workers. According to the report, there was still possibility of negotiations in different stages but management did not show any interest in operating the unit.
Surya Garment — established in 2002 to export garments to Europe and third countries — had about 600 workers. The committee was on a field study of Surya Nepal’s garment wing, jute mills and medicine industries of the eastern region on September 20-27.
The committee has also identified energy crisis and lack of market as key problems for jute industries in Sunsari-Morang corridor. “The jutes mills are hit hard due to energy crisis and lack of incentive in export,” lawmakers said, adding that they have suggested the government to form Jute Development Board to promote jute industries.
About 11 jute industries are in the region but only nine are in operation currently. Biratnagar and Nikki jute mills were closed after they went to losses. The jute industries have employed about 13,425.
The committee has suggested the government to start Sunsari-based Multifuel plant and provide energy to the industries. Though, jute industries are sick, they can be revived, if the government provides energy and some incentives to them and farmers, it said, adding that jute cultivation area and production has remarkably shrunk in the last five years.
According to Economic Survey 2010-11, jute cultivation area stood at 11,720 hectors in 2006-07, which decreased to 10,510 last year. Similarly, production also decreased from 16,810 metric tonnes to 12,950 in the last fiscal year.
Likewise, the committee has found illegal manufacturing and distribution of Ashtabakra Jeevan Ras by Dharan-based Makalu Jadibuti Production since last two years. The committee has also found exploitation of workers in Manoj Pharmaceuticals, Shiva Pharmaceuticals and Makalu Jadibuti.
Source: THT
