Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 23:

Trade unions worldwide yesterday observed ‘Global Trade Union Day of Action on Nepal’ calling the Nepal government to restore the rights of the trade unions. Union Network International (UNI), a global body which represents over 15 million members of 1,000 trade unions in over 150 countries, appealed to the government to restore trade union rights.

“Restoring freedom of association and freedom of speech is an indispensable first step to put Nepal back on the path to democracy,” the organisation said in a memorandum handed over to the Royal Nepalese envoy in Geneva yesterday.

The Brussels-based International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), World Confederation of Labour (WCL) and Global Union Federations (GUFs), had called to observe March 22 as the International Day of Trade Union Action on Nepal, according to information posted on UNI web site.

Similarly, the International Textile, Garment and Leather’ Federation has renewed its call to the government of Nepal to restore civil liberties and release scores of trade union leaders who have been detained for what it said simply for exercising legitimate union activities.

A group of top trade union leaders who are taking part in a session of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation today visited the Nepalese mission to the UN in Geneva to express their concern over the situation in Nepal and called for the release of detained trade unionists.