Unwritten Signature: GEFONT Lunches New Music Album focusing on Domestic Workers & Migrant Workers

Posted On - 15/06/2012

June15 - General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT)organised a program with slogan "Domestic Work is Work: Ratify ILO Convention 189."  On the occasion, GEFONT along with the National Peoples' Music Forum (NPMF) launched Unwritten Signature, the Music Album of Labour Songs. The album is focused on the issue of domestic workers and migrant workers. The music is composed by Cde. Ashok Rai NPMF Secretary.

Launching the Album, GEFONT President Cde. Bishnu Rimal said"Around two hundred thousands domestic workers are working in Nepal and  also sending many domestic workers in different countries. So, we have to ratify the convention to secure domestic workers right. We are working in DW's issues within the country and abroad with collaboration of different TUs and workers friendly organization.We are working with ASI & KAFA (issue on  violence against women and children. The album is a joint effort to organise workers."

Introducing the music album at the programme, Cde. Pemba Lama; Deputy Secretary General of GEFONT said, "Even though there are lots of songs written on migrant Nepali workers, the issues of domestic workers remain unwritten. This music album is to capture the woes of Nepali women forced to work in foreign land as domestic workers and mental trauma their family has to endure."

Speaking at the programme, Mr. Binod KC, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) said, "The ministry is working on the basic things required to ratify the convention. It is vital to study the convention that which clause can be implementing and demystify. He further stated"In this process the government needs support form trade unions and other stakeholders. Remittance is not only solution, to develop the country we need to generate employment within the country. The songs will be the medium to aware the workers. It is the work of ministry but GEFONT has done it." 

Mr. Meghnath Neupane, Director of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) said, "CNI is positive on the issue of ratification of the DW Convention. The domestic workers should protected by the labour law and domestic violence." 

Mr.Narayan Bhattarai, representative of the ILO country office Nepal, Cde. Khagendra Rai, General Secretary of National Peoples Cultural Forum also addressed the programme.

On the occasion, the artists were honored by Cde. Bishnu Rimal.

Representatives from Trade unions, ILO, Government officials, Employer's organization, Civil Society and students beneficiaries of GEFONT Education Program had participated in the programme.