Kathmandu, December 6

Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista has asserted that action will be taken against those organisations that do not provide basic salary to their employees as determined by the government.

Inaugurating the fifth national conference of the UNI APRO Nepal Liaison Council Conference here today, Minister Bista pledged that the government will focus on creating an environment where the labourers will get basic salary and social security.

He said the government will expand the scope of the social security scheme to incorporate labourers in the informal sector, stressing the need to streamline banks and financial institutions (BFIs) as well as insurance companies.

Furthermore, the minister said that the social security scheme will also incorporate the labourers working in the BFIs sector.

Nepal Trade Union Congress Vice-President Tejendra Jung Karki spoke of the need to organise the workers in the service sector and urged the labour unions to guarantee their rights.

Director of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) for Nepal, Annette Schlicht stressed on uniting the unorganised workers in the service sector through their organisation. FES has been conducting a campaign for social democracy across the world.

Regional Coordinator of the Netherlands Trade Union Federation Prabhu Rajendra also spoke on the need of organising the unorganised workers by making them skilled in new technologies as well.

UNI APRO Nepal Liaison Council Vice-President Mahendra Shrestha drew attention towards the possibility of technology eating away the workers’ jobs, calling on the workers also to be updated about developing technology.

More than 200 representatives and observers affiliated to the trade unions related to various service sectors are participating in the conference.