GEFONT orchestrated (organized) different events in more than 50 places across the country on the occasion of International Labour Day (May Day) 2024. The Joint Trade Union Coordination Center (JTUCC) jointly organized a labour rally and assembly at Kathmandu and Pokhara. The workers' rally, initiated by GEFONT from the central office in Putalisadak, traversed the city, culminating at Bhrikutimandap and change over into an assembly.GEFONT President Binod Shrestha had made welcome remarks where Prime Minister Pushpa kamal Dahal , Sher Bahadur Deuba, Sankhar pokhrel , Kamal Thapa and other leader extended their best wished for International May Day .

Similarly a workers rally originating from prithivi chowk converged upon the city of Pokhara at Gandaki , culminating in a meeting held at Simon Party Palace situated at Srijana Chowk.

Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Khagaraj Adhikari, inaugurated the assembly by emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between the labor movement and government administration. He stressed that the state should not progress at the expense of neglecting the welfare of the workers.

Similarly on the occasion of May Day 2081 , GEFONT has celebrates May day in Biratnagar of Morang District, Dharan of Sunsari district, Gaighat of Udayapur district,  Katari Sankhuwasabha and Dhankuta .

A labour conference was held in Biratnagar under the presidency of GEFONT Province President Kishor Dhamala whereas with GEFONT General Secretary Laxman Sharma as the chief guest.

CPN UML province president Ghanashyam Khatiwada including representatives from several organizations had addressed during the assembly.

Likewise, GEFONT Madhesh province had concluded May Day in janakpur, Siraha, saptari, and Simara.

A labour assembly was held in Simara under the presidency of GEFONT  Madhesh Province President Kamlesh Jha with the chief guest of CPN UML secretary Yogesh Bhattarai .

GEFONT Vice President Manju Thapa, Secretary Taranidhi Panta including leaders of GEFONT addressed during program. May Day celebrations were held in various locations, including Dhadingbesi and Khanikhola in Dhading District, Dolakha, Chitwan, Hetauda, and Kavre in Bagmati Province. 

Following a workers rally in Hetauda, Makwanpur District, a meeting was convened under the presidency of Provincial Vice President Arjun Aryal while the chief guest for the assembly was CPN (UML) politburo member Devi Gyawali. Additionally, congratulatory speeches were delivered by GEFONT Vice President Manju Thapa and Bagmati Province Minister of Water Supply and Irrigation, Eklal Shrestha.

May Day has been celebrated in Gandaki province Pokhara, Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat, Syangja, Nawalpur district of Devchuli, Gaidakot, Madhyabindu and Tanahu district of Damauli, Bhimad and Deudhat (Devghat) and took place at lumbhini province such as Butwal, Banke, Bardia, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Dang, Kapilvastu and Nawalparasi.

The Guest of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor Sabitra Devi Aryal, Tilotama city Deputy Mayor Jageshwari Chaudhary and Sainamaina city Deputy Mayor Bina Rana gave their best wishes at the workers' assembly held after the labour rally of Rupandehi in Butwal, while GEFONT vice president Kamal Gautam was as Chief Guest.  

Following the organization of a workers' rally in Surkhet, Karnali Province, a labor assembly convened after the circumambulation of Birendranagar city, presided over by Radha Shrestha, the Executive Chairman of GEFONT Karnali Province.The assembly was held in the presence of GEFONT Education Department Secretary Hari Bahadur Karki as the chief guest, including CPN UML District president mani Devkota, GEFONT National Committee member Chanda Dhami and other leader addressed.  

Likewise, GEFONT had concluded May Day in far Western province at kailali District of Dhangadhi, Gariganga Municipality and Kanchanpur.After the labor rally in Dhangadhi, the labor assembly was held under the chairmanship of GEFONT state president Jit Malla and the Chief Guest of CPN (UML) state secretary Ran Bahadur Chand. After the Dhangadhi labour rally, GEFONT province President Jit Malla chaired the labour assembly, with CPN (UML) Province Secretary Ran Bahadur Chand as the Chief Guest.In the assembly, Deb Bahadur Bam Coordinator of GEFONT Cooperative Distribution Board, CPN (UML) Kailali District President Yagya Prasad Dhungana and including other leaders expressed their greetings on the occasion of International Workers' Day 2081.

The Nepal Independent Hotel Casino and Restaurant Workers Union (NIHWU) - Hotel Pokhara Grand, has elected a 15-member committee under the chairmanship of Cde. Yama Prasad Sapkota in a special conference held on February 6.

Cde. Laxman Tiwari, Central President of NIHWU, stated that the union, active in the tourism sector, is the only official trade union representing the hotel. He emphasized that the union operates collectively and institutionally, asserting that it does not operate based on the whims of any individual.

Cde. Manmohan Gayak, the president of Pokhara Grand and also the central vice president of the union, was disciplined by expelling from his position due to his involvement in anti-union activities.

Cde. Rudra Bahadur Khatri, GEFONT Gandaki Provincial President, affirmed that the union's vitality and continuity would not be compromised by the migration of a few individuals. He stressed the importance of unity, organization, and perseverance in striving for the rights of workers.

Cde. Badri Kumar Bhandari, Central Secretary of NIHWU, highlighted that for the past 18 years, NIHWU, as the official trade union, has been actively addressing the workers' concerns.

During the opening ceremony of the special conference, speeches were delivered by GEFONT National Committee member Cde. Pampha Pahari, GEFONT Province Committee member Cde. Badrinath Subedi, NIHWU central member Cde. Keshav Prasad Sapkota, Union Hotel Pokhara Grand Vice President Cde. Nita Mainali, Secretary Cde. Ramchandra Acharya, and others, addressing various issues about workers in the tourism sector.

General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) Bagmati Province workshop and planning meeting was held under the chairmanship of Cde. Ramhari Nepal on February 3rd at the Tourism Board's hall at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu.

In the workshop, GEFONT President Cde. Binod Shrestha recalled the history of Nepal's trade union movement, which started in 1946 and reached the third generation today, although it has succeeded in bringing many changes in the labor sector, including political changes, but the workers' lives are not in a condition where they can feel the change, and how to advance the movement in the labor market. Emphasizing that it should be our main issue in the future, he expressed confidence that the workshop will create a solid plan.

While being led by the third generation of Nepal's trade union movement, while protecting the achievements of the past movement, emphasizing on the need to implement the program set by the 8th Congress of GEFONT, GEFONT has 20 percent increase in membership, joining 2 million workers in contributory social security scheme, remuneration for intern, etc. He said that workers should have an active role.

Expressing his belief that the workshop will help in building a reliable organization of workers in 119 municipalities of 13 districts of Bagmati province by identifying their shortcomings and achievements in a fine manner, President Shrestha also gave instructions to implement the ideas that came out of the workshop in a planned manner.

In the workshop, GEFONT Vice President and Women's Committee President Cde. Sita Lama highlighted 10 issues to be done in the workshop. GEFONT General Secretary Cde. Laxman Sharma said that it is necessary to formulate more plans after evaluating how much of the plan prepared by the Federation has been implemented and how much remains to be done.

120 leaders from 13 districts of Bagmati province were divided into 7 groups and prepared by discussion in the planning workshop which was facilitated by GEFONT Vice President Cde. Bidur Karki, Cde. Jitendra Shrestha, Cde. Sita Lama, Secretary General Cde. Laxman Sharma, Deputy Secretary General Cde. Narnath Luitel, Secretary Cde. Mahendra Lal Shrestha.

Bagmati Provincial Office informed that the issues presented in the workshop will be prepared and implemented in the provincial committee meeting on February 4th.

Cde. Binod Shrestha, President of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), emphasized the need to proceed with the ratification of ILO Conventions, formalize informal labor, and revise labor laws promptly.

Shrestha, serving as the president of GEFONT, expressed these views during his participation as a trade union representative in the Central Labor Advisory Council meeting held at the Ministry of Labor and Employment Social Security on February 1.

The Central Labor Advisory Council urged the government to ratify ILO Conventions 81 and 87, which designate the decade from 2081 to 2090 as the period for promoting domestic employment. Additionally, the council resolved to organize a labor and employment conference within the current financial year.

The Asia Pacific regional meeting of Streetnet International, an international umbrella organization of self-employed street vendors from around the world, where the Nepal Street Vendors Trade Union (NEST) is affiliated, commenced on 30th January at Hotel Thamel Park in Kathmandu.

At the onset of the meeting, GEFONT President Cde. Binod Shrestha extended a warm welcome to all participants from various countries to Nepal. Trade union representatives from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Thailand, Belgium, Portugal, Cambodia, Ukraine, and other countries attended the meeting. Cde. Shrestha emphasized that the challenges faced by street vendors are identical across different countries. He advocated for the development of a common framework to address these issues.

Cde. Shrestha underscored that the primary concern is the dignity of work, regardless of its scale. He highlighted GEFONT's ongoing efforts towards promoting dignified work.

He mentioned that GEFONT and Nepal Street Vendors Trade Union (NEST) played a significant role in integrating street vendors into the contributory social security scheme. Additionally, he noted GEFONT's campaign aimed at enrolling 2 million workers into the contributory social security scheme.

Representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Solidarity Center shared their perspectives during the meeting, which is scheduled to continue until 2nd February.

GEFONT along with other Trade unions members -Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre (JTUCC) has filed the complaint   with ILo against Government of Nepal and legislature Parliament on Violation of the Trade Union Rights by curtailing right to strike in all Industrial Enterprises. 

In the complaint, it is requested ILO to take an appropriate action against the Government of Nepal to:

Repeal the provision containing anti labour provision under Industrial Enterprises Act 2016 ( Clause on Industrial Human Resource¬)

Repeal the provision containing ban on right to strike and bargaining in Special Economic Zones Act 2016, 

To repeal the Essential Service Act 1957 and the notification published under the act every six month 25th April 2016, which ban the strike on different services. We further request the Committee to make a direct request to the Government of Nepal in order to stop all kinds of unfair practices such as repeatedly issuing of prohibiting order in the name of 'Essential Services', which curtail workers' democratic rights ensured by the ILO core conventions.

To ensure that Government should amend all legislation which must be comply with ILO principle on Fundamental principle and right at work as well as constitution of Nepal. 

To take an appropriate action against the Government of Nepal in order to ensure union rights in Nepal and prior consultation with trade unions, which affect the right of the works.

Recently, the parliament has adopted the Industrial Enterprises Bill in line of the draft submitted by the Ministry of Industry. According to the preamble of the bill, the main aim is to provide facilities concession and tax rebate to industry by the government. It wants to create investment friendly environment to replace import by increasing export through enhancing national productivity and employment opportunities within the country.

The Bill contains different chapters containing Preliminary provision, Registration and Regulation of Industry, Provision on Classification of Industry and Fixed Capital structure, Creation of  Industry and Investment Promotion Board, Provision relating to Concession, Facility and Discounts to be provided to Industry,  Provision relating to Single Entry system, Provision on Sick Industry, Provision on Punishment and Appeal, and Miscellaneous Provision. None of the Chapter contains the rights, remuneration, and benefit of the workers including their duties and responsibilities.

Complain before ILO against GOV 17 Nov 2016