Parsa-Bara Corridor declared strike-free zone

PARSA, MAY 15 -

In what appears to be a positive development in terms of employer-employee relations, the Parsa-Bara Industrial Corridor has been declared a strike-free zone.

Although agreements were signed between employers and three major trade unions a year ago not to organise strikes for four years, this is the first time that a certain industrial zone has been called a strike-free zone.

Organising a programme in Birgunj on Tuesday, the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bara Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as various trade unions signed a 19-point commitment paper declaring the industrial area a strike-free zone.

The Parsa-Bara Industrial Corridor contains around 700 small, medium and big factories. The corridor provides employment to around 70,000 workers.

The common pledge signed by the industrialists and workers states that both the parties will not conduct illegal activities like strikes, agitation, blockages, threats and misconduct. The pledge further states that solutions to problems would be sought through a systematized process, and if there arises any kind of aberrant situation, the problems shall be dealt amid the presence of representatives from the trade unions, chambers of commerce and industry, Department of Labour and other required representatives from the government.

The agreement states that both the parties will work to play a constructive role in developing the corridor as a peaceful zone and solving personal as well as group issues through a tripartite participation process. Matters like developing an environment for mutual respect, not hurting another’s self-esteem, developing a labour-friendly environment and making an effort to increase productivity, among others, have been mentioned in the agreement.

The pact says that the trade unions will work to establish the rights of workers by remaining within the law, making workers active and responsive in their respective job, organising training on ways to keep oneself safe while working and developing a productive workforce.

Trade unions and industrialists have also agreed to conduct various programmes in a creative way for pressurizing the government to declare the corridor a load-shedding-free zone. They also agreed to study the viability of sick factories in the area to reopen the concerned enterprises and lobby the government and the FNCCI to re-establish them, inspire new industrialists and remain committed to implementing the Labour Act.

Meanwhile, the Bara Chamber of Commerce and Industry will felicitate 10 motivated, honest and hardworking workers annually as per the recommendation made by both the stakeholders, the agreement says. Furthermore, they have also agreed to ask the government to establish an industrial manpower training centre and monitor the implementation of the agreement through a coordination committee.

President of the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ashok Kumar Vaidhya and senior vice-president Pradeep Kedia, chairman of the Employer’s Council Subodh Gupta and general secretary Gopal Kedia and president of the Bara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Binod Shah signed the pact on the behalf of the employers.

From the side of the trade unions, coordinator of the All Nepal Trade Union Federation Bhojpur Chapter Min Prasad Chapagain, central member of the Nepal Trade Union Kamlesh Jha, coordinator of the All Nepal Trade Union Federation (Revolutionary) Bhojpur Chapter Ganga Basnet, regional president of the Nepal Trade Union Congress Independent Amrit Lal Joshi, president of the Madhesi Factory Forum Nepal-Democratic Suresh Gupta, president of the Madhesi Factory Forum Nepal Bindeshwor Yadav and president of the Federation of Independent-Democratic Trade Union Raj Kapoor Chaudhary signed the agreement.

Home secretary Navin Kumar Ghimire and director general of the Department of Labour Krishna Hari Pushkar were present during the signing ceremony. During the event, all the stakeholders promised to implement the agreement.

Home Ministry secretary Ghimire said that the government was positive about the agreement and was committed to playing the role of facilitator to implement it. “The government is also ready to address issues related to labour security, and this shall be done soon,” added Ghimire.

Similarly, Pushkar said that the signing of the agreement was an historic moment for the whole country. He added that the department was working to address issues related to labour soon.

Source: The Kathmandu Post