General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions

GEFONT Congress Delegates Council Meeting concludes

Posted On - 04/07/2010

June 03 –GEFONT Congress Delegates Council Meeting of GEFONT has been concluded.

The meeting was Presided by  Com. Mukunda Neupane , Chief of GEFONT Congress Delegates Council.

Addressing the Meeting, Com. Bishnu Rimal, President of GEFONT said that whole year we worked on the theme “ Unity for Transformation “ adopted by GEFONT’s Fifth National Congress .This year we  have achieved  significant results in area  of Political, Ideological and  Organizational works  with the slogan "Transformation is Possible".

President further stated that before  15 months Geographically GEFONT was only in 35 districts , but now GEFONT has  covered 65 districts. In various districts , District Union Councils, Youth Committees, Labour Relation Committees, Women Committees  are being formed. GEFONT Districts Conference has been conducted. We have conducted the Campaign for the ratification of ILO convention no.87 , Incorporate the labour issues in drafts of  new constitution. Like wise , We are conducting the Campaign across the country to create pressure for the formation of Social Security Fund  and  National labour Commission in addition to this  amendment of Labour Laws.

In the Meeting , Com. Umesh Upadhaya Secretary General of GEFONT presented the Evaluation report of the Secretariat for discussion and conclusion.Like wise group discussion based on the issues prepared by the Secretariat  took place.

The Congress Delegates' Council meets annually, this was the first after the National Congress. The Congress Delegates' Council is comprised with all delegates  of 5th national Congress which will be valid till to next Congress. It is a supreme body between two congress. The delegates has been catagorised as one-third titular member and remaining last two-thirds are first substitute and the 2nd substitute.

First Congress Delegates Council Meeting  has adopted special resolutions which are follows:

1.To demand with constituent Assembly and Political parties for a  the Pro-Worker constitution on time.

2. From Last two years the wage of the workers has not been increased but the inflation  is increasing day by day.  So the Meeting demands with Government and employer to increase the wage of the workers and to fix the minimum wages of workers in  Informal sectors workers.

3.The meeting strongly opposes the policy of "No Work No Pay which is imposed by Ministry of Industry without consultation.

4. The Meeting Demands with Government and Political party to initiate  step for the ratification of  ILO Convention No.87 and  to establish the Social Security Fund

5.Labour related Acts like Labour Act, Trade Union Act and Bonus Act are in the process of Amendment . National Labour Commission has not been formed yet as per provision of  the interim Constitution .so the meeting demands for  :

-Amendment of Labour law
-Formation of National Labour Commission
-Provision should be made for  Domestic workers protection against domestic violence  in New labour Law

6.Ministry of Industry in  Nepal is going to adopt the policy for the establishment of Special economic zone without any consultation with Nepali Trade Unions .So  the meeting warns not to put forward any anti-worker Law concerning SEZ.

7.More than 120 millions rupees is in National Welfare Fund which is not utilized properly. So the Meeting Demands for :

-Use of  this fund in higher education for the children of workers under poverty

-Use in Medicare of the  workers and health insurance.

8.A large number of youth workers are  migrating  in search of job due to  unemployment, and  earn far more than they could at home . It is estimated that daily  seven death bodies  return back  . Government  is not effective  to protect their life. Foreign Employment  Welfare fund is established by the contribution of Migrant workers. Every worker  deposits Rs  1000 in the Fund  who  go in  foreign employment. It is known that foreign employment Welfare fund  is misused by Labor Minister and Ministry of Labor. The meeting Demand to use for the relief of migrant workers who contributed for the fund and strongly condemns the misuse.
 

9.Since more than one year, due to the labour disputes the various industries have  been closed and Workers are facing problem not getting wages from last 9 months, So the  Meeting Demands for the immediate solution of the chronic problem of the labour market and sick /closed enterprises

10. It is difficult to find out the number and status of informal workers due to the lack of registration system. And also difficult to bring them in Trade Union Movement. So the Meeting demands for:

- The provision of Registration in local bodies of Government

-Action  to fulfill the demands of GEFONT affiliate Unions.

11. Still the state doesn’t seem responsible toward   the Working class. In interim constitution  there is a  provision that “The State should be Welfare Oriented ’’ but State could not show such a character in practice.As a result , working people are deprived from the minimum welfare facilities provided by State .So the Meeting demand with Government :

- To provide daily consumption goods in minimum rate to low wage  workers.

- To manage housing for at least 10 thousand homeless/landless workers.

- To manage health care through health insurance policy.