Kathmandu, April 18

At a time when transport entrepreneurs have threatened to go on strike over the government’s move to break their syndicate, the Ministry of Home Affairs today warned that it would initiate action against any person or group directly or indirectly involved in obstructing supply and delivery of essential goods and services.

Issuing a press release today, the MoHA issued a warning to all concerned to refrain from enforcing or causing others to enforce any form of strike or protest in a manner to obstruct the supply and delivery of essential services.

“If any person stages a strike or encourages others to do so in essential services sector, the local administration will initiate legal action against him/her under the Essential Services Operation Act, 1957,” said the release.

The government has fixed 18 areas of essential services where strike is prohibited. Some of these services include transportation, postal, telegram or telephone services, and airport runway and aircraft repair and maintenance services.

The government has also banned strike in mint or government press, any service of defence affairs of the government relating to the function of arms, ammunition or production of military goods and services concerning internal security, the MoHA informed.

Other service areas include water supply, tourism sector, supply of petroleum products, health services, waste management, banking, electricity supply, insurance and transportation, storage and distribution of consumer goods, including rice, lentils, edible oil and salt.