Industries partially crippled as ANFRTU goes on strike

KATHMANDU, JUN 07 -

Industrial operations across the country were partially paralysed, while a few business establishments were vandalised on Thursday, due to a two-day strike called by the All Nepal Federation of Revolutionary Trade Unions ( ANFRTU ).

Industries inside Hetaunda Industrial Estate remained totally closed, while around 25 industries inside the Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor were forcefully closed. Some of the industries based in Pokhara also suffered from the strike. However, Biratnagar saw minimal impact of the strike.

ANFRTU cadres vandalized Lomas Herbal Research Centre of Lomas Group in Gongabu, Kathmandu. Lomas Group Executive Director Pradeep Jung Pandey said a group of 10 individuals barged into the office and vandalised for “defying their strike” and warned the officials not to open the office during the strike.

ANFRTU cadres also vandalised the office of GCC Approved Medical Centers Association (GAMCA) Nepal in Kupandole, Lalitpur. The activists held a demonstration at the main entrance of Balaju Industrial Corridor. Industrial operations at Bhaktapur Industrial Corridor were also partially disturbed.

Expressing dissatisfaction over its exclusion in the new minimum wage revision process, the trade union affiliated to Mohan Baidhya-led CPN-Maoists has called a nationwide industrial shut-down until Friday.

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) strongly condemned the vandalism of industries. “We strongly condemn the vandalism by CPN-Maoist trade union,” said FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya. “This type of protest not only disturbs the employer-employee relationship, but also violates industrial peace and security.”

The police arrested 16 ANRTUF activists — eight each from Kathmandu and Hetaunda — for violating industrial peace. ANFRTU Coordinator Ram Deep Acharya said the police have released six of the eight cadres arrested from Kathmandu.

Industrialist Manish Kumar Agrawal said industrialists suffered without any reason. “We showed maximum flexibility while revising the minimum wage, but we are now being troubled,” said Agrawal. “Who will bear the loss the industrialists faced?”

Source: The Kathmandu Post