सुदृढ एवम् परिपूर्ण लोकतन्त्र (आठौँ राष्ट्रिय महाधिवेशनबाट पारित नीतिगत प्रतिवेदन)
With the aim of building skilled manpower in trade unions to make the labor movement effective and strong, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Asia Pacific organized a Training of Trainers (ToT) on the Power Resource Approach (PRA) for the Future of Work in Mongolia from August 26, 2025.
The training, which will run until August 30, 2025, featured on the first day a session titled “Problems to Goal”. In the session, Smriti Lama, Secretary of the Foreign Department of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), shared her experiences on approaches to working style and strategies, and presented practical knowledge and skills on the use of the Power Resource Approach (PRA).
The training is being facilitated by Dina Feller, author of the Power Resource Approach Toolkit and a trade union trainer, along with Chao Cabatingan, Program Manager of FES Philippines. Trade union leaders from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Mongolia, and the Philippines are participating.
The International Trade Union Confederation Nepal Affiliated Council (ITUC-NAC) and DTDA Denmark jointly organized a two-day Strategic Planning Workshop in Godawari, Lalitpur.
The workshop, chaired by ITUC-NAC President Yogendra Kuwar, started on August 24, 2025, and was attended by the Presidents, Vice Presidents, and General Secretaries of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC), and All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF).
With the participation of DTDA Head Lotte Yligard and Program Officer John Paul, the workshop reviewed past activities and prepared program plans for 2026.
The Women’s Committee of the Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre (JTUCC) organized a seminar on the impact of climate change, just transition, and gender issues in Kathmandu on August 24, 2025.
As the chief guest, JTUCC President Jagat Simkhada highlighted that JTUCC has been continuously lobbying on the impact of climate change in policymaking, particularly concerning women workers.
GEFONT Vice President and JTUCC Women’s Committee Coordinator Sita Lama shed light on the relevance of the program while also extending best wishes on the occasion of Teej 2025.
Senior journalist and resource person Saru Dhakal provided training on the impact of climate change, just transition, and gender issues.
A three-day training on climate change and just transition, organized by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Asia-Pacific, has been concluded.
The training, which began on August 21, 2025, was inaugurated under the chairpersonship of ITUC Nepal-affiliated Committee Coordinator and NTUC President Yogendra Kuwar. The program was attended by guests, including General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) President Binod Shrestha.
In the training, GEFONT Vice President Bidur Karki facilitated a session on environmental change campaigns and future action plans, while General Secretary Laxman Sharma facilitated a session on workers’ rights in just transition.
Similarly, sessions on green transition—its principles, issues, and challenges—as well as the Government of Nepal’s policies on climate change and just transition, were facilitated by Satoshi Tamai, Lotte Yligard, John Powell, and Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment Naresh Sharma.
The Home Workers’ Trade Union Nepal (HUN), affiliated with the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), organized a program on August 22, 2025, on the occasion of Hartalika Teej, to congratulate and extend best wishes to the newly appointed Bagmati Province Minister Bindu Shrestha.
At the program, GEFONT President Binod Shrestha noted that the Teej festival has always been celebrated by GEFONT with a focus on class-based struggle, and extended greetings for the occasion.
President Shrestha emphasized that continuity, commitment, and self-confidence within the organization are key to achieving success, highlighting that persistent efforts have allowed the Nepalese trade union movement to gradually achieve milestones.
HUN’s founding president and GEFONT Parliamentary and Local Coordination Council member Bindu Shrestha, now the Bagmati Province Minister for Industry, Commerce, Land, and Administration, received congratulations and honors from HUN’s central committee. Minister Shrestha remarked that this achievement is not individual but a small milestone of Nepal’s trade union movement.
Minister Shrestha also stated that the trade union movement plays a crucial role in making the industry and commerce sector labor-friendly, and emphasized the need for GEFONT’s support in this regard.
The program was chaired by Central President Chandra Sagar Lama and facilitated by General Secretary Gyanu Maya KC.
For more photos of the program, click the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122165793878435116&type=3
The General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT)-affiliated, Nepal Street Vendors' Trade Union (NEST) held the second Bagmati Province convention on August 20, 2025, and elected a 13-member committee under the leadership of Nanimarya Basnet.
Inaugurating the convention, GEFONT President Binod Shrestha stated that the organization is a common home for all, and every effort made is for a brighter future for workers. He highlighted that, due to the struggles of predecessors, workers today enjoy organizational freedom, inclusion in social security, and access to various rights.
President Shrestha further emphasized that the labour movement has produced numerous leaders who are now contributing at the policy-making level, and expressed confidence that further achievements in workers’ rights can only be ensured through a strong, disciplined, and continuously committed organization and activists.
The convention also featured goodwill remarks from NEST Central President Maya Gurung, GEFONT Bagmati Province President Ramhari Nepal, NEST General Secretary Rajkumar Shrestha, and CPN-UML Workers’ Special District Committee President Tulshi Shiwakoti, among others.
Click the link below for more photos from the event:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122165376602435116&type=3
The Whole Industry Trade Union, Nepal (WHIN), affiliated with the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), held a workers’ gathering at SR Drugs on August 20, 2025.
The meeting was chaired by WHIN SR Drugs President Bikram Maharjan and graced by GEFONT Bagmati Province President Ramhari Nepal as the chief guest. The gathering discussed the implementation of the increased minimum wage from the new fiscal year, and matters related to past contributions, savings, and bonuses following enrollment in the Social Security Fund.
With the participation of WHIN Central Deputy General Secretary Arjun Chaulagai and GEFONT Chandragiri Municipality President Rajbhai Shrestha, the meeting also decided to form a collective bargaining committee to present a memorandum of demands to management.
On August 19, 2025, the Nepal Health Volunteers’ Association (NEVA), affiliated with GEFONT, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Karnali Province, Hon. Yam Lal Kadel.
The memorandum, led by NEVA Central Member Bhimu Rijal, along with Birendranagar Municipality Chairperson Menaka Acharya and other leaders, called for including health volunteers in the Contribution-Based Social Security Fund, among other demands.
Workers’ News 645 | September 8, 2025 Welcome to another edition of Workers’ News — prepared by workers, for workers! 👉 In this episode: ✅ The second Statute Congress of CPN-UML, held from September 5–7, 2025, concluded successfully in Lalitpur with the slogan “Building Decisive National Power is Our Commitment, Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali is the National Destination”. ✅ About 2,400 representatives from across Nepal and abroad participated, including nearly 70 representatives from the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT). ✅ Hear what participants had to say about the issues raised and the roles discussed in making CPN-UML a class-oriented party. 🙏 Thank you for watching Workers’ News – your voice, your rights, your power! ✨ Stay connected with us: 📌 Like | 👍 Share | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe for more updates on workers’ rights! 🔗 Follow us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gefont.nepal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gefontnepal Website: https://www.gefont.org/ 🔖 Hashtags: #WorkersNews #GEFONT #Nepal #LabourRights #TradeUnion #CPNUML #2ndStatuteCongress #WorkersVoice #DecentWork #NepaliWorkers #WorkersForWorkers
The path they carved for others–5