KATHMANDU: Minister for Industry Mahendra Prasad Yadav today said the

government will enforce ‘no work no pay’ policy in the industrial sector. “It will be enforced at any cost,” he said in a press meet at Reporter’s Club here.

The Ministry of Industry (MoI) has included the provision in the draft of the industrial policy 2009, which is under scrutiny of the cabinet. Bandhs and strikes by labourers have been hampering the growth of the industrial sector, which is already suffering from energy crisis and insecurity.

On the security front, at least 25 businessmen and entrepreneurs were killed by armed groups or others while 65 more were kidnapped this year. More than 70 big industries closed down for over 100 days due to labour problems, insecurity and strikes. Around 775 bandhs and strikes were recorded in the year.

The minister claimed that labour unions have agreed to the ‘no work, no pay’ rule in principle. “There won’t be any difficulty except in politics-motivated industry closure,” said Yadav. “We are addressing their demands with new laws and policies.” Trade unions have given

consent to the new industrial policy on the condition that the

government provide social security. Under the plan, the government has to set up a social security fund from the contribution of the employee (one per cent) salary, industry (2.5 per cent) and 2.5 per cent from the government. But there is no significant progress in this regard.

MoI is working on Industrial Enterprise Act and Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act to support the new policy. “This will be tabled in the legislative parliament,” said secretary Pratap Pathak.

The new industry policy has emphasized on export promotion through establishing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Export Promotion Zones (EPZs) providing special facilities to entrepreneurs. It has also made provision for an Investment Board (IB) under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. IB will deal with investments above Rs 10 billion.