KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoLTM) is planning to introduce Labour Commission (LC) — a major demand of trade unions for years — within the current fiscal year. MoLTM has prepared the first draft and started the second round of consultations for further revision. Consultations on the draft will begin from Friday, said MoLTM undersecretary Navin Pokhrel. MoLTM has proposed LC as a semi-judicial legal entity which would also work as an advisor of the government. “The major duties of the LC are settling labour disputes and advising the government on labour related issues,” he said. According to the draft, the existing Central Labour Advisory Committee (CLAC) and National Welfare Fund (NWF) will be under the LC. Today, CLAC and NWF are operating under the direct supervision of MoLTM and Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE). Moreover, Labour Coordination Section of the ministry and Labour Court will merged in the LC. The new draft — National Labour Commission Act — was prepared under the guidelines of International Labour Organization (ILO) granting basic rights of labourers. ILO has shown interest in LC as there is low reporting of labour disputes in Labour Court. “ILO wants labourers should have easy access to justice,” said Pokhrel. A labour expert will head the seven-member LC executive body, he said adding he/she must be have at least 10 years’ experience to be appointed chairperson. There are no strict criteria for other members except they should be associated with labour issues. According to the draft, members of LC will be appointed by the government. It will function like an appellate court and deal with individual cases as an appeal against the decision of labour offices. Department of Labour (DoL) has 10 labour offices throughout the country. Settlement of national level disputes is the major work of the LC, Pokhrel added. Nepali trade unions are awaiting the operation of the LC, said Bishnu Rimal, president of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT). “Labour disputes have to be solved a congenial atmosphere made for entrepreneurs and workers,” he said. The Budget 2009-10 has given top priority to establishment of LC but it was initiated by the previous Maoist-led government.