Sunsari-Morang corridor set for trade union polls

BIRATNAGAR, JAN 19 -

Bringing much-needed relief to industrialists, industries based in Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor are all set to observe an election for an official trade union for the first time in nine years. The polls are scheduled for February-end. The industrialists had long been complaining about the compulsion to deal with numinous competing trade unions which not only consumed their valuable time but also affected production, with one union not agreeing with the deal reached with the other.

The District Labour Office (DLO) took the initiative for the election after the Department of Labour dispatched a circular asking it to hold the election. The DLO held talks with industrialists, Morang Merchant Association, Morang Industries Association and trade unions and started preparation for the election. Raj Kumar Gupta, chief of Biratnagar DLO, said the elections will be held in 30 factories in the first phase.

Somnath Adhikari, executive secretary of Morang Industries Association, said the decision to hold the election has created a new impulse in the entire industrial corridor. “It has delighted both the sides,” he said.

Absence of an official trade union for a long time had been affecting factory productivity as well as creating complexities in revision of workers’ salaries.

“The management currently cannot fulfil demands of all three unions at once,” Anil Sharada, coordinator of the committee related to labour issues of the Morang Merchant Association, said. “But after the election of an official union, such issues can easily be dealt with.”

After the election, industries can hold bilateral talks with the new working committee on how to increase factory output and increase facilities to workers, according to Sharada.

After the announcement of the election, unions are now busy updating information with their members and other officials. Gopal Sharma, president of Nepal Trade Union affiliated to the Nepali Congress, said the election ‘is in everyone’s interest’.

Dharma Sanjel, president of the union to jute, garment, carpet and textile industries, said the election of one official trade union holds even more significance as it will simplify decision making which will benefit both employers and workers.  

Worker in the industrial corridor are also hopeful that that their salaries and benefits will go up after the election.

Source: The Kathmandu Post