Kathmandu, February 5:

Nepal Carpet Exporters’ Association (NCEA) has said that carpet industry — a major source of foreign exchange — is on the verge of closure, while leaving behind over 2,00,000 people jobless after the Maoist-affiliated trade unions padlocked the factories.

According to a press release by NCEA, such situation has only harmed the Nepali carpet industry.

“The Maoist-affiliated trade unions padlocked 10 major carpet factories as well as the office of the association for the past 25 days demanding — among others — a minimum salary of a carpet factory worker be fixed at Rs 5,000.