May 3: Seventy percent industries are found to have defied the government decision to fully pay workers of formal sectors for the month of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April).    
During a primary survey on the status of distribution of remuneration and operation of industries during lockdown by the Whole Trade Union Nepal (WHIN), only 30 percent industries were found giving full payment of mid-March to mid-April to their workers. The survey covers 219 industries associated with General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GFONT), in the five States with industrial density.    
The study found that 87 workers in State-1, 58 percent in State-2, 68 percent in Bagmati State, 68 percent in Gandaki State and hundred percent workers in State-5 were not given payment on a regular basis.    
Workers of multinational companies, hydro-power companies, food industries and drugs industries were getting the payment regularly and such industries were operational during lockdown.    
Though the government had issued a notice in the national gazette directing full payment to formal sector workers for the month of Chaita (mid-March to mid-April), it seemed that majority of industrialists were not serious to implement the government decision, said WHIN chair Anand Thami. He stressed the government should take a strict measure to ensure the rights of workers and those flouting the government directive should be deprived of state facilities.    
During lockdown, 24.65 percent industries were operated regularly, 15 percent partially and around 60 percent have remained completely closed. -- RSS