The 11th meeting of the National Delegates Council meeting of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) concluded yesterday. The meeting held at Thapagaun, Kathmandu on July 20 and 21 under the chairmanship of CPN (UML) Deputy General Secretary and GEFONT Patron Bishnu Rimal passed various proposals.

The council meeting passed the proposal of future work divided into 17 topics presented by GEFONT president Binod Shrestha.

The 28-page long program includes 17 topics along with their detailed activities to be implemented throughout the year, namely, strengthening the organisation and distribution of membership, revision of labour laws, 10% service fee refund campaign for hotel and tourism workers, campaign for paid internship, campaign to implement social security in all sectors, campaign to unionise outsourced workers and include them in the social security program, campaign to implement labour audit at the enterprise level, conduct training, resolve disputes in the workplace to strengthen labour relations and establish a labour desk, publicise and publish the contribution of workers, strengthen business-related safety and health protection, organise various events and ceremonies, strengthen joint initiatives and joint work through the JTUCC on labour issues to secure and dignify migrant labour and employment, organise special programs, make the central office more organised and make collaboration and inter-relationship between unions more effective.

Similarly, the meeting passed the proposal of 21 points of contemporary issues submitted by the Vice President Bidur Karki, the report of the National Committee submitted by the General Secretary Laxman Sharma and the financial report submitted by the Finance Manager Baburam Koirala.

Before passing the report, all 4 reports were discussed by making 5 groups. After the discussion, Arjun Aryal, Sujana Joshi, Sarita Nepal, Kripa Karki and Shankar Thapa presented suggestions and comments on behalf of their group.

GEFONT President Binod Shrestha expressed his belief that the entire GEFONT is ready to effectively implement the program passed by the 11th meeting of the National Delegates Council and the mandate given by the meeting, and that GEFONT will reach a new height in the trade union movement.
 

The National Delegates Council meeting of the Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) started yesterday on June 20th in Kathmandu. Council members from all over the country are participating in the meeting which will continue for two days under the chairmanship of CPN (UML) Deputy General Secretary and GEFONT Patron Bishnu Rimal.

Member of Inclusion Commission Haridatta Joshi, Chief of CPN (UML) Wing Organization Bhanubhakta Dhakal and FES Nepal Representative Chandradev Bhatta were also present in the opening ceremony of the council meeting. On this occasion, GEFONT President Binod Shrestha congratulated and expressed best wishes to GEFONT patron Bishnu Rimal, who was recently appointed as Chief Advisor to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

The national meeting of the GEFONT Solidarity Fund was also organised on the first day of the council meeting. The representatives of the gathering made suggestions on the proposal presented by the General Secretary Laxman Sharma regarding the amendment of the Fund Operation Regulations-2073 to make the fund more systematic and effective.

GEFONT President Binod Shrestha honoured the news editors, technicians and presenters Amar Dhwaja Lama, Bikram Shrestha, Sabita Basnet, Jenish Shrestha, Rabin Gopali, Supriya Rai and Bishnu Khanal who were involved in the production of daily digital bulletin ‘Shramik Khabar’ launched by GEFONT on July 9 last year on the occasion of the first anniversary of the bulletin. Furthermore, Sangita Pandey of Gandaki Province and Dansingh Bista of Sudur Paschim Province were honoured for watching, listening and sharing the most number of labour news on social media.

In the first session of the Council meeting, General Secretary Laxman
Sharma presented the report of the National Committee, Baburam Koirala presented the financial report and President Binod Shrestha presented the proposal for upcoming programs. According to the agenda of the meeting, the reports and proposals presented on the first day will be discussed and passed today on July 21.
 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's chief advisor and General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) patron Bishnu Rimal said that GEFONT has been successful in maintaining the integrity of the liberation movement of the working class without being greedy for power and prestige. Rimal, who presided over the National Representative Council meeting of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), expressed this opinion during his speech.

Rimal, who is also the deputy General Secretary of CPN (UML), emphasised that the council members should be careful not to lose the trust of workers by exaggerating GEFONT.

Since the current government is moving towards reforming the economy by overcoming despair, leader Rimal also urged GEFONT to help the government by introducing workers from the local level to the social security program.

Addressing the council meeting, CPN (UML) Wing Organization System Chief Bhanubhakta Dhakal praised GEFONT for being at the forefront of helping the party among the 23 wing organisations of the party. He said, 'You don't have to command GEFONT, it does what it says.'

Bhanubhakta Dhakal, head of the public organisation system, suggested to the council members that GEFONT, which has a nationwide network, should also work to create influence in the party committees at the local level.

Binod Shrestha, Politburo member of CPN-UML and President of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) has said that the reactionaries are spreading the illusion of the Nepalese labour movement being weak.

Chief Guest Shrestha made this statement while addressing the labour gathering and interaction program' organised by the CPN (UML) Ramechhap Kathmandu Contact Forum on the occasion of the 100th anniversary and 46th Memorial Day of the late Pushpalal, the founder General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal.

The chief guest Shrestha urged people to be vigilant about those who try to create hoaxes about the lack of achievement of the labour movement in Nepal.