Nepal: Strong state can execute workers’ rights, FES seminar finding

Telegraph Nepal

Former Labor Minister Mukunda Neupane speaking at a program “Social Movement and Labor Reforms” organized by CLASS-Nepal in cooperation with FES argued that  Nepal should try to become self-reliant to avoid the culture of dependency and lack of sovereignty in policy and politics.

“Politics lacks clear national policy, society is fraying due to identity politics and economy is declining. Our ancestors were far better in the management of the state and maintenance of social cohesion and peace. Female bees remove the male drones from the hive because they only consume honey without collecting it. Collection is done by the labour of female bees. In the same way, political class is appropriating the nation’s surplus laboriously produced by labor classes. Transformation requires industrial development of the nation. Without transforming the culture of leadership it is not possible,” the former minister said.

Laxman Basnet, President of Nepal Trade Union Congress stressed on the need to create common minimum program and exert pressure on the government for job-creating policies so that people at the rock-bottom of society can be uplifted.

Program officer of ILO Narayan Bhattarai discussed on the improvement of labor laws attuned to ILO core labour standards.

Minister for Law and Employment Kumar Belbase stressed on several points: national self-reliance, utilization of the nation’s natural resources, work ethics, corporate business responsibility, robust management and utilization of national labor and capital. He expressed readiness to improve laws in line with the framework of social justice.

Vice-President of FNCCI Manish Aryal stressed on social dialogue to that employers and employees can come together to settle their grievances and create sound industrial relations.

President of CLASS-Nepal Shankar Lamichhane said that industrial peace can be achievable only through cooperative action of all the unions and leaders should strive for a single union which is also in the interest of employers. 

Head of Nepal office of FES Dev Raj Dahal argued that since life is labour expansion of labour market, diversification and deepening can ensure survival, development and public goods. They also create real life-choices which is essential for democracy.

He said that labor must be transformed into citizen and human beings so that they can collaborate with others not as class enemy but as social partners in common pursuit of wealth-creation, exchange and distribution. Only a strong state can implement Nepali workers’ all rights. Therefore, they should work on mediation of capital, labor and the state.

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