Sunsari-Morang industries brace for trade union polls

BIRATNAGAR, FEB 10 -

Trade unions in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor, one of the country’s biggest industrial hubs, are gearing up for the election for an official union. The polls are being held in the third week of February after nine years.

With the Department of Labour (DoL) issuing a circular for holding the election, the Biratnagar Labour Office has begun preparations. Rajkumar Gupta, chief of the office, said there has been an agreement to hold elections in 30 industries in the first phase.

The upcoming election has cheered both workers and employers. While the workers are expecting fair wages after the election of a dominant and official trade union, the employers will get rid of the hassles of negotiating with numerous labour bodies.

In the absence of an official trade union, a single industry in the corridor had up to eight unions, making it difficult for the employers to address the workers’ demand. There are multiple examples of a trade union rejecting the agreement reached with the other.

Gopal Sharma, chairman of Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC), said the decision to hold the election has brought a new enthusiasm in workers. “All are making efforts to keep their associations, officials and members proactive,” he said. “As the election is associated with the interest of workers, all have shown positive concern towards the election.”

Dharma Sanjel, chairman of Jute, Garment, Carpet, Textile Workers’ Union Nepal, said the election holds ‘special significance’ as an elected official union can alone demand for the rights the workers and play an important role in decision making processes. “Even political parties are showing interest at the local level,” he said.

Anil Sarda, coordinator of Labour Affairs Committee at Morang Industry Association, said absence of an official union had created confusion among employees and workers, hitting effective delivery of task from both sides.

“There are three trade unions currently and it is difficult to address the demands of all of them at a time,” he said. “But the election of an official trade union will help ensure the workers’ rights and productivity of industries.”

Industrialists said due to the absence of an official union for nine long years, employers and employers were losing faith among each other.

Source: The Kathmandu Post