Pokhara, January 10:

Hotels and restaurants in Lakeside of Pokhara came back into operation today after the agitating Kaski chapter of All Nepal Hotel and Restaurants Workers’ Union (ANHRWU) lifted the lockout in the enterprises.

The ANHRWU had padlocked the hotels and restaurants, demanding the minimum wage fixed by the government. According to the union, the lockout

was lifted last night, hoping for a positive result of the talks planned with the tourist entrepreneurs.

President of Pokhara Tourism Council Bachhuram Tiwari said Lakeside-based hotels and restaurants resumed operations today. “This has created the conducive environment for talks,” he added.

All the workers returned to the work today, said Dorge Lama, member of Restaurant and Bar Association, Pokhara, and owner of Moon Dance Restaurant.

A meeting of seven organisations affiliated to the tourism sector in Pokhara today agreed to hold talks with the agitating workers soon. Representatives from Tourism Council, Regional Hotel Organisation, Pokhara Hotel Organisation, REBAN, TAAN and city REBAN attended the meeting.