The Appellate Court, Hetauda on
Thursday continued the stay order it had issued a week ago against labor
strike at Surya Nepal, after hearing demands of laborers of the
country´s largest multinational tobacco company.
The court decision to continue the stay order has prevented the company´s closure for indefinite period.
“The court has ordered us to resolve the problems through dialogue,” Rabi KC, corporate vice-president of Surya Nepal informed Republica Thursday evening.
The Maoist-affiliated Nepal Multinational Companies´ Workers Union (NMCWC) had threatened to close down the company from last Monday if its 11-point demand was not fulfilled. Surya Nepal had challenged the union´s move at court and the court had issued the stay order on March 29.
According to KC, the court´s decision to continue the stay order and recommend dialogue for resolving the dispute has paved the way for resumption of talks between management and the trade union.
Trade union officials however termed Thursday´s court order as unfair. “We are not happy with the court decision,” Beni Prasad Timilsina, president of NMCWC said. “We will meet Friday to decide our future strategy.”
According to Timilsina, the court has again summoned both management and trade union officials on May 2 for another hearing.
After the court´s March 29 stay order, the management, which had raised the basic salary of workers a few months ago by Rs 1,165, has agreed to further increase it by another Rs 400 and allowance by Rs 500.
It has also proposed raising gratuity amount by Rs 20,000 for those who serve the company for 20 years and by Rs 120,000 for those serving for 25 years, from existing Rs 180,000. It has also expressed readiness to increase medical expenses from Rs 300,000 to Rs 400,000 for those workers who suffer from cancer.
The trade union also maintained flexibility and has reduced the number of demands to 7 from 11. “But we are firm on other demands like raising basic salary by Rs 2,000, allowance by Rs 1,000 and increasing gratuity paid at the time of retirement to Rs 500,000,” said Timilsina.
The union has also refused to relinquish its demand for job guarantee for offsprings of staffers in case they die while working, while dropping demands like raise in medical insurance and residential quarters for workers.
The court decision to continue the stay order has prevented the company´s closure for indefinite period.
“The court has ordered us to resolve the problems through dialogue,” Rabi KC, corporate vice-president of Surya Nepal informed Republica Thursday evening.
The Maoist-affiliated Nepal Multinational Companies´ Workers Union (NMCWC) had threatened to close down the company from last Monday if its 11-point demand was not fulfilled. Surya Nepal had challenged the union´s move at court and the court had issued the stay order on March 29.
According to KC, the court´s decision to continue the stay order and recommend dialogue for resolving the dispute has paved the way for resumption of talks between management and the trade union.
Trade union officials however termed Thursday´s court order as unfair. “We are not happy with the court decision,” Beni Prasad Timilsina, president of NMCWC said. “We will meet Friday to decide our future strategy.”
According to Timilsina, the court has again summoned both management and trade union officials on May 2 for another hearing.
After the court´s March 29 stay order, the management, which had raised the basic salary of workers a few months ago by Rs 1,165, has agreed to further increase it by another Rs 400 and allowance by Rs 500.
It has also proposed raising gratuity amount by Rs 20,000 for those who serve the company for 20 years and by Rs 120,000 for those serving for 25 years, from existing Rs 180,000. It has also expressed readiness to increase medical expenses from Rs 300,000 to Rs 400,000 for those workers who suffer from cancer.
The trade union also maintained flexibility and has reduced the number of demands to 7 from 11. “But we are firm on other demands like raising basic salary by Rs 2,000, allowance by Rs 1,000 and increasing gratuity paid at the time of retirement to Rs 500,000,” said Timilsina.
The union has also refused to relinquish its demand for job guarantee for offsprings of staffers in case they die while working, while dropping demands like raise in medical insurance and residential quarters for workers.
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