Trade unions to join hands

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: The seven trade unions affiliated to the Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre (JTUCC) have promised to work together on major issues related to workers. The trade unions have made a common minimum understanding to fight for workers’ rights, they said at a press meet today.

“We are guided by different political philosophies but have common goals. Therefore, we are united in fighting against discrimination of workers,” said leader of pro-Maoist trade union All Nepal Trade Union Federation Shalikram Jamarkattel.

Trade unions will be univocal when it comes to collective bargaining for salary, benefits and social security hereafter, he added.

President of Nepal Trade Union Congress-Independent Laxman Basnet said that major trade unions are developing JTUCC as a common platform to strengthen rights-based and welfare actions for workers. “We will fight for a common agenda for the welfare of workers through JTUCC,” he said.

“The major problem for the current labour disputes is the lack of powerful regulating agencies. Therefore, the country needs a National Labour Commission,” said Basnet, adding that the commission must have semi-judicial rights to resolve disputes before they are referred to the Labour Court.

“We envisioned the commission because the court process is lengthy and workers who live on daily earnings do not have the time to wait for long procedures,” said president of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions Bishnu Rimal.

Trade unions affiliated to JTUCC have put forward a 12-point agenda for the 123rd International Labour Day — May 1. According to Rimal, trade unions have started their movement in foreign countries according to international conventions including International Labour Union Convention 87.

“We have formed a background for it through bilateral agreements with trade unions of labour receiving countries,” he added.