Government Ready to Address Demands of Sagar Nath Forest Development Project Workers Engaged in Protest Since July 25. Labour Strike Program Concludes with Formation of Team Alongside Government's Commitment for Resolution.

As per the decision  of the problem resolution committee made by Ministry of Forests and Environment  on August 2 decided to submit a report to the ministry of forestry to manage the remaining salary of workers for 11 month until August 6 and to implement the verdict  of the supreme court regarding  the wages earners workers the social security.

The Sagarnath Forest Project was established in 2033 B.S. in Madesh Province  Sarlahi District Ishwarpur Municipality Ward No. 4 under the oversight of the forest product Development Committee of the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Forestry and Environment.

Even after the consensus reached on April 19 2023, in the presence of office of the District Administration Office, Sarlahi, regarding the demand for minimum wages and facilities as per the Labour Act made by laborers who had worked diligently for 30 to 35 years in this project, the project did not implement the agreements. In light of this, the workers sought justice as per the law. They sent petitions to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Forest Nursery Development Committee, and issued a public statement against the Sagar Nath Forest Development Project.

Even the Supreme Court has issued mandamus on 24th May 2023 to provide wages and facilities to the workers despite the project did not comply with the Supreme Court's mandate, the workers were staging a sit-in at the Forest Department office in Kathmandu from July 9, demanding wages and job security for the past 11 months.

On July 24, the tea garden workers demanded wage increment through the active trade unions in the tea sector including  Nepal Agriculture and Tea Workers Union, Nepal Tea Garden Workers Union, and All Nepal Tea Laborers Union have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of Nepal through the Jhapa District Administration Office.

The worker's rally reached the Jhapa District Administration Office along with the statement including raising minimum wages, implementing the employment agreement, Implemented the contribution-based social security.

Despite informing the employers about their demands on June 20 and not receiving any response, the three trade unions have been protesting continuously by raising black flags at their workplaces since July 17.

Kathmandu, An agreement between Tea Workers and entrepreneursin writing to provide wages to workers in line with the Labour Act and Regulations.

With this, the tea estate entrepreneurs have agreed to provide daily minimum basic wage Rs 231, dearness allowance Rs 145 and an additional Rs 42 for security guard serving in the estate/industry.

The agreement is to implement the provisions of Labour Act-2074 BS and Regulation-2075 BS in case of the workers of the tea estates and industries.

Agreement has been signed between Nepal Tea Producers Associationand representatives of the Trade unions.

Tea sector workers are in agitation demanding for the implementation wage fixed by the government. Three national level tea-plantation workers union declared agitation programme as the tea-companies denied to increase the wage of workers as declared by the Government.

Two national level union including GEFONT affiliate Federation of Agriculture and Plantation workers union of Nepal (FAPWUN) handed over the Memorandum to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) and Nepal Agricultaral research council (NARC).

On the occasion, represenatives from MoLESS expressed their commitment to send the circular on wage increment through Labour office and labour department

काठमाडौं– सार्वजनिक कार्यक्रमहरुमा उद्योग र उद्यमीलाई प्रोत्साहनका फोहोरा छोड्ने सुर्खेत उद्योग वाणिज्य संघका अध्यक्ष प्रकाश अधिकारीले नेपालको श्रम ऐन, कानुन र आइएलओका मूल्य मान्यता विरुद्ध ठाडो जवाफ दिंदै नेपालको कानुनलाई नै चुनौति दिएका छन् ।

भेरीगंगा नजगरपालिका ५ कालीदमारमा सञ्चालित अर्गानिक माउन्टेन फ्लेवर प्रा.लि.का सञ्चालक समेत रहेका अधिकारीले नेपाल कृषि तथा बगान क्षेत्र श्रमिक संघ (फापुन) केन्द्रीय कमिटीका अध्यक्ष पूर्णचन्द्र उपाध्यायलाई धम्काउँदै सो अभिव्यक्ति दिएका हुन् । नेपाल सरकार, टे«ेड युनियन र रोजगारदाताहरुको त्रिपक्षीय सम्झौतामा बनेको श्रम ऐन कानुनलाई मान्दैन, आईएलओ को हो र ? के नै गर्न सक्छ र ? जस्ता शब्दहरु बोल्दै तथानाम गाली गर्दै अधिकारीले श्रम ऐनको ठाडै अपहेलना गर्ने काम गरिमामय पदको नै बेइज्जती भएको फापुन अध्यक्ष उपाध्यायको भनाई छ । 

श्रमिकको हक अधिकार लागि मेची महाकाली अभियानका क्रममा रहेका केन्द्रीय अध्यक्ष उपाध्याय सहित जिफन्ट कर्णाली प्रदेशका पदाधिकारीहरु सम्मिलित एक समुह गत फागुन १२ गते अधिकारीको उद्योगमा कार्यरत श्रमिकहरुको अवस्था बुझ्न गएको थियो । त्यसको झण्डै दुई हप्ता पछि अध्यक्ष अधिकारीले राष्ट्रिय तथा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय श्रम ऐन कानुन र मर्यादाप्रति खुलेआम धम्क्याएका हुन् । 

सो उद्योगमा कार्यरत करिब ४ दर्जन श्रमिकहरुलाई लैगिंक असमान व्यवहार गरेको, पारिश्रमिक, सेवा सुविधामा भेदभाव गरेको गुनासो श्रमिकले गरेका थिए । सो उद्योगमा पुरुष र महिला श्रमिकको ज्यालामा पनि भेदभाव छ । साथै श्रमिकहरुलाई नेपाल सरकारले तोकेको न्यूनतम बेतन समेत नदिएको पाइएको थियो । 

Aiming to  create a decent working condition in private sector organizations in seven districts of eastern development region of Nepal, GEFONT,  in collaboration with ILO Nepal conducted various activities in Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Terhthu, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur and Dhanukuta  focusing on Agriculutre secotor particularly – Ginger, Cardamom, Orthodox tea and Diary. During the period various activities  such as Training for union members, orientation on labour rights and OSH issue . As a result, Numbers of  union member trained on the issue of Decent Work, Labour law, Social Security, OSH, gender discrimination, Trade union Rights . During the period, GEFONT organised meeting and interaction with government authority holders, political parties and employers  witht the aim of creating  conducive working environment and implementation of labor rights. Municipalities,District administraitve  office ,village municiaplity expressed their written commitment for the implimentation of labour rights in their area.

According to Cde Bhairab Pathak ,FAPWUN  Vice-President  six new FAPWUN commiittees formed and more than five hundred new workers have been joined in FAPWUN from seven district.