Biratnagar, November 2

Factories based in Biratnagar have been found violating the labour law.

The government had fixed minimum salary for workers in all sectors at Rs 13,450 per month, but none of the factories here have followed the rule.

During an inspection carried out by a team led by Biratnagar-based Labour Office Chief Prem Prasad Sanjel, lawmaker Moti Dugad’s Dugad Spices and Food Pvt was found violating the government directive. Not even a single other factory inspected was found paying its workers the minimum salary fixed by the government.

Industries such as Aarati Strips Pvt Ltd, Quality Noodles Pvt Ltd, Dugad Spices and Foods and Tri Coat Industries were monitored on Wednesday. “Not a single industry was found to be following the labour act,” said Sanjel. “The industries haven’t implemented the rule that requires industrialists to provide minimum salary to its workers,” he said.

As for Aarati Strips, it was found to be employing majority of workers from India. The practice is against the law, considering Clause 22 of the Labour Act that entails prior permission from the government before employing foreign nationals.  “Despite the government rule, the factory clearly hasn’t sought any permission,” said NCP-aligned GFONT chair Kishor Dhamala.

Meanwhile, Moti Dugad, the operator of Dugad Spices and Food Pvt, denied paying workers lower than the  salary fixed by the government.