KATHMANDU: The high level ministerial committee formed on Friday to resolve the problems grappling the local bodies and the agitating employee unions are scheduled to meet tomorrow at 11 am for a dialogue.

“We will meet for a talk tomorrow and discuss the outstanding issue with the five agitating unions to seek out a solution,” said Krishna Gyawali, member secretary of the panel and the secretary at the Ministry of Local Development. Reacting to the call for dialogue in an affirmative note, Indra Prasad Adhikari, president of the agitating Nepal Municipal Employees’ Association said, “We are ready to take part in the dialogue tomorrow.”

However, the said that the strike would continue till all their demands are addressed.

The agitating unions have brought the local bodies’ daily chores to a grinding halt, including the collection of garbage, since December 15. There are about 37,000 staffers in 75 district development committees, 58 municipalities and 3,915 village development committees across the country.

Citing that it had not yet studied the Local Self Governance Regulation 2009, which was awaiting the Cabinet’s nod, the Ministry of Local Development has urged the agitating employees to resume the everyday work. But the unions continue to ignore the appeal. The talk panel has said a stakeholders’ meeting was essential before the deal was struck with the unions.