Itahari, January 3:

Workers of jute factories in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor have called an indefinite chakka jam in Morang and Sunsari districts from tomorrow.

Demanding minimum wage fixed by the government, some 20,000 agitating workers have already closed nine jute factories as per their third-stage protest programme. They brought vehicular movement in Itahari-Biratnagar section to a standstill from 6 am to 12 noon today as well.

The jute workers have been agitating since December 18.

“We have been compelled to stage an indefinite strike after the government turned deaf ear

to our demands,” Ganesh Adhikary, president of the Joint Struggle Committee said.

Eastern regional coordinator of the Nepal Trade Union Congress Narayan Babu Karki said they were compelled to stage indefinite strike after the government showed its apathy towards their demands. “This agitation will continue until the jute workers are paid Rs 190 as daily wage,” he added.

Issuing a notice in Nepal Gazette on September 18, Ministry of Labour and Transport Management had said all workers in industrial organisations would be paid a daily wage of Rs 190.

“However, the ministry issued another notice on December 23 saying the increased wage would be provided to all workers except those working in tea and jute factories,” Tejlal Karna, a worker, said.