GEFONT urges govt to bring new labour laws

KATHMANDU, August 10:

General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) has urged the government to enforce new labour laws to build a better industrial environment. 

National Representative Council meeting of the trade unions affiliated to the federation held on July 31-August 1, had taken the decision to pressure the government to enforce six new laws associated with workers. 

Trade unions and employers have submitted the drafts of six laws to replace the Labour Act 1992, Bonus Act 1974, and others. “We are building pressure on the government to enforce the laws through ordinance for enabling a conducive environment for investment,” said president of GEFONT Bishnu Rimal in a press meet today. 

According to him, major trade unions affiliated to Nepali Congress and UCPN-Maoist have agreed to launch a pressure campaign through the Joint Trade Union Coordination Committee. The committee was formed some years back to raise a single voice on a basic agenda of the trade unions. 

GEFONT has also emphasised on introducing the Social Security law to provide unemployment and other benefits to workers. “Industrial disputes are connected to the social security of workers, so ensuring the security of workers will help build a better industrial environment,” said general secretary of the federation Umesh Upadhaya. 

Similarly, GEFONT also proposed to start a labour monitoring system to ensure the implementation of minimum wage, and explore better relations between workers and employers. The labour conference held last month had promised to build a labour monitoring system.

Source: The Himalayan Times