130th International labour Day celebrated

1st May, 2019, Kathmandu.

Nepal Trade Union Congress convened labour rally on the auspicious occasion of 130th International Labour Day at Kathmandu. The slogan of recent labour issues; implementation of social security scheme in informal sectors, minimum wage, strike in Tea and Garden workers union, end corruption, etc raised the temperature and intensity of the program.

Nepal Trade Union Congress President Bro. Pushkar Acharya, Vice president Aasha Singh Rathor, General Secretary Bro. Yogendra Kumar, Deputy General Secretary Bro. Rajesh Palikhe, Central members, NTUC Province 3, NTUC Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, 26 affiliates union, International affiliates representatives Industriall, Solidarity Center took part in the rally Program.

The rally started from Bhadrakali at 10:00 am and concluded in the congress at Balmiki Ground, Bhrikuti Mandap. More than 2000 workers from service, production and informal sectors marched in the rally.

Likewise, Bro. Pushkar Acharya chaired the session. Bro. Yogendra Kumar Kunwar facilitated the whole session. Former General Secretary of Nepali Congress Mr. Prakash Man Singh was the chief guest and the special guest were Spokesperson of Nepali Congress Mr. Bishwo Prakash Sharma, NC Kathmandu District president Mr. Krishna Sabuj Baniya, NC leader Tirtharam Dangol, General Secretary of SARTUC Bro Laxman Bahadur Basnet, representatives of Employers association Bro. Bijaya Swar, Industriall Mr. Himal Kharel, solidarity center Ms. Krishma Sharma, former president of NTUC Bro. Khila Nath Dahal, Former NTUC Vice President Bro. Ganesh Niraula, Former NTUC GS Achyutraj Pandey, Ward representative of Kathmandu city Mr. Hiralal Tandulkar, member of province 1 representatives, representatives of CTEVT and 26 affiliates union were present in the session.

The program started by the welcome song from Prem Prakash Oli. He sang workers song. Also, President of NTUC Kathmandu district Bro. Devi Lamsal gave the welcome speech to the labours. The national anthem took the preceding which remembered the evolution of labour movement from 2003 B.S.

Likewise, President of Nepal Home Workers Union (NHWU) Ms. Usha Acharya gave greeting to the Nepali and worldwide workers. She stressed that NTUC has 12 informal sectors union and the most of the workers from such sectors are unpaid minimum wage as determined by the government.

Similarly, President of Nepal Carpet Workers Union (NCWU) Bro Sabirman B.K. widely criticized the recent government. He urged government to implement the act and laws of the government and stop spreading only hopes and commitments.

Accordingly, advisor of Nepal Transport Employers Bro. Bijay Swar expressed grateful to NTUC as being the first mentor towards career of union. He also told that it would more appropriate if he would have been invited as a workers representatives.

Also, Former president of NTUC Bro. Khila Nath Dahal recap the history of International labour Day. He also explained the chronological development Nepali labour movement.  

Furthermore, General Secretary of South Asian Regional Trade Union Council Bro. Laxman Bahadur Basnet provided the emergence and importance of social security act. He also focused upon the benefits it will spree upon the workers from informal sectors. "Government of Nepal is not strongly implementing the act and laws, the fear of social security act failure has become a concern", he added.

Likewise, President of NC Kathmandu district, Mr. Krishna Sabuj Baniya provided regards to the workers on the auspicious day. He also congratulated Nepali Trade Union Congress for taking the issues of labour seriously inside and outside the nation. He said that NC Kathmandu will always pair hands with NTUC for the prosperity of Labour.

Accordingly, NC spokesperson Mr. Bishwa Prakash Sharma vouched for the hard work of Nepali workers. The life of Nepali workers are miserable, more than 3 dozen workers have dead during the construction building in Qatar stadium, government of Nepal have to create employment inside the country. This is the day in which workers are united instead of leader; workers are the people who attribute sweat, blood for the prosperity of nation, he summarized.

In addition, the chief guest of the program, former general secretary of NC Mr. Prakash Man Singh equivocal the activities of government. He said that this kind of weak mechanism can alter the administrative practice of federalism. "Government of Nepal has deluded all tactics such a improvement of transport syndicate system, ending corruption and also spending only 30% of its total budget" he echoed.

At last, Chairman of the program Bro Pushkar Acharya appreciated the workers for making the rally and the session successful. He also stick around the time and said that there are programs in which past president Laxman Bahadur Basnet, Khila Nath Dahal are to be honored in JTUCC. He also criticized government only for the advertising rather than strongly implementing the laws related to labours.