18 Jan 2017, Kathmandu

A very important and  informative meeting took place on 18 Jan 2017 at NTUC central office between NTUC president Mr. Khila Nath Dahal and IMF mission chief for Nepal Mr. Gerard Almekinders.

IMF delegation was part of Nepal: 2017 Article IV Consultation Mission of International Monetary Fund (Basically the Article IV mission of IMF is in the surveillance process to its member countries. Its overall objectives are to highlight possible risks, financial stability and advise on an appropriate policy adjustments. Every year IMF sends a group of officials, also called ‘Staff Mission’ to the member country to gather financial and monetary data and will have bilateral discussions with officials, private sector and members of civil society. These usually include government officials, policy makers and representatives of business, labor and private-sector economists and analysts.

NTUC president Khila Nath Dahal explained about Trade Union concerns on labour law amendment, employment creation, social security law; social dialogue and collective bargaining at the work places which are the key issues for workers and employers. Regarding labour relations in Nepal, he further elaborated that trade unions are concerned in applicable laws and they are always open for dialogues and cooperation like bipartite and tripartite stakeholders. Also, the discussion included employment generation as a serious matter for trade unions.

Mr. Dahal further added that IMF, as a monetary and fiscal policy advisor for its member countries need to rethink in the issues like operational framework to give more emphasis in workplace democracy and justifiable income distribution of the enterprise and also make economy more sustainable and viable.