Hetauda, August 22:

Over 400 workers of Unilever Nepal Ltd and other six factories dependent on Unilever; National Soap, Ganga Soap, Super Lamicoats, Nobel Print and Packaging, Trikhanda Packaging took out a rally here today demanding to reopen Unilever Nepal Ltd.

The rally, led by Nepal Free Chemical and Iron Labourers’ Union, demanded to reopen the company, which has been shut down since August 17 for the indefinite period.

The rally started from the main gate of the Unilever at Bashamadi VDC and ended at Sima Chowk after passing through different parts of Hetauda. The workers carried banners and placards demanding reopen of the industry and guarantee of their employment.

On the occasion, Lal Krishna Pyakurel, secretary of the Union, said that such protest programmes will continue until Unilever reopens. They have been organising such programmes to reopen Unilever on a daily basis. They have put the banners requesting to reopen the company all over Hetauda market.

Over 1500 workers have been affected directly and indirectly after the closure of Unilever, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) said. The employees of Unilever have sent a letter to District Administration Office (DAO), FNCCI, various trade associations, human rights organisations, political parties, Civil Concern Committee and security agencies requesting to initiate action to reopen the Unilever.

Uttam Sharma Dhakal, Chairman of Makwanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industries, on the occasion, said that FNCCI has taken initiative to resolve the problems. After the closure of Unilever, called by the Maoist aligned All Nepal Trade Union, other six factories dependent on Unilever have also been closed down.

Madhav Adhikari, chairman of Makwanpur Trade Association, said that the association will organise an interaction programme tomorrow to access the situation.