National Labour and Employment Conference Concludes with 15 pt declaration

Posted On - 11/07/2012

July 11- Under the theme of "Promoting Conducive labour relation for decent work and job-rich economic growth" the National Labour and Employment Conference has been concluded today in Kathmandu.

Addressing to the inaugural session of the Conference, GEFONT President Cde. Bishnu Rimal mentioned-"we had had first labour conference, which was concluded with adopting national labour Policy for the first time in our country. The second conference organised 8 years back had adopted 19-point common agenda to reform our world of work."

"This conference is, as I understand, continuation of previous two. Thus, I do expect, this Conference would conclude logically, the ongoing exercise of democratic labour market reform!"

President Rimal questioned in his address- "Do we agree that proposed amended labour legislations are equally applicable to all sectors? If it is the case, let set a principle to bring all informalised work under the purview of new labour act."

We are in opinion that high-productivity is only possible if our employers are ready to follow high wage policy. Since, empty or half full stomach didn’t permit any person to listen classical rhyme, similarly poverty-wage block speed of high productivity!"

GEFONT President said- "we, as a responsible trade union centre in the country, are ready to reciprocate the employers demand of High-productivity and link productivity with wage, if our employers are ready to pay high-wage instead of meagre pay!"

The trade union movement is ready to make sound social dialogue in our labour relation. I humbly ask, President Rimal questioned-"Do our employers are ready to introduce Labour Inspection System at workplace now? If you are ready, we happily propose to separate Right-based demand with Interest-based one! In condition of implementation of LIS, we are ready to include only interest-based dispute in the CBA!"

GEFONT president discussed on activation of newly established Social Security Fund as well. He questioned- "Does our Govt know this fund is a tripartite contributory one? If it is knowledgeable, we trade unionist want to listen rate of Govt contribution in the Fund! Thanks to the collective agreement of previous year- through it our employer has accepted their contribution rate 20% of employees pay! Let me demand to lay legal provision how to deposit it in the fund where only workers are contributing since three years!"

GEFONT president categorically asked other social partners to accept proposed provision of National Labour Commission. He asked-" if you desire to minimise or bring to zero incident of strikes and lockouts; why aren’t you accept formation of national labour Commission? Similar commissions are acceptable to the employers and government of Australia, USA and other countries of the world, what harm our partners are visualising?"

Organised by tripartite conference organising committee comprises with Government, Employers Organisations and Trade Unions, it was coordinated by Ministry of Labour and Employment (MOLE).

The conference kicked off on July 9, 2012. It has adopted 15 point declaration at the end. There were some 100 each delegates from trade unions and employers organisation. Similar numbers were from the Government offices including Principle secretary of Govt of Nepal, where Secretary of MOLE was Chair of the organising committee. The conference  was assisted by International Labour Organisation.

Prior to declare 15-point declaration, 1 and half days was dedicated for five thematic sessions with plenary. The theme was- Labour Law reform and social security for the workers, Promoting Employment: Challenges and Opportunities, Labour market governance: Challenge and way forward for effective & efficient labour administration and inspection and minimising social cost of foreign labour migration and effective reintegration policies and programmes.

The First labour Conference was held on November 1997 and the Second labour conference was held on January 2005. GEFONT was one of the main actors to initiate all of the three labour conferences.

>> Declaration