Federation of Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union of Nepal (FAPWUN).
National conference of Kamaiya workers held in January 1996 formed Kamaiya liberation forum. GEFONT felt that trade union movement should organise and mobilise the vast majority of rural agricultural wage earners. With this aim, Agri-workers national gathering was organised in May 3-5 1996 and established Federation of Agricultural workers-Nepal. This Union has been registered in Labour Department in 14 March, 2003.
The Union Covers all the workers of Agricultural field like plough man, shepherds, farmers, farm workers including wage or contract agri-workers. At present, the union has its hold upon 6 zonal committees, 23 district committees, 1 central Women Department, some district women department, 64 Area Committees and 204 Village Committees.
Bonded kamaiyas who were previously organised in Kamaiya Liberation Forum Nepal and now they are unionised within FAWN
Affiliates Activities
Tea Garden Workers Demand Wage Increase
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.
Tea Workers and entrepreneurs reached to an agreement: Protest Called off
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.
Workers from tea sector in Agitation
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
Five hundred new workers join in FAPWUN
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.
Chairman of Surkhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry threatens FAPWUN President
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 ।
GEFONT Dhanusha holds agricultural workers summit
An agricultural workers summit was on June 10 at Janakpur, Dhanusha under the organisation of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Union (GEFONT).
The summit held under the chairmanship of GEFONT vice president Bidur Karki has decided to enumerate agricultural workers, expand the membership of Federation of Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union of Nepal (FAPWUN) by 2,000 in the next 6 months in Dhanusha and form district and municipal committees in order to expand and mobilise unionism among workers in the agricultural sector in the district. GEFONT Dhanusha District President Ramchandra Mandal presided over the meeting in the presence of GEFONT Province President Kamlesh Jha, trade union leader Ramnaresh Singh and others.