July 11: Workers of Hulas Wire Industries Pvt Ltd in Budiganga rural municipality, Morang continued their protest on Saturday demanding reinstatement of 93 workers who were expelled by the industry. The workers have been protesting at the gate of the industry since Wednesday.

Although two informal meetings between the industry administration and leader of the labour organization have taken place, no agreement has been reached between them as both parties did not want to compromise. The production of the industry has been halted due to the protest. Other 750 workers of the industry have also joined the protest. After the failed meeting, other trade unions have also joined the protest.

Workers have set up tents at the main entrance of the industry causing obstruction to the movement of people into the industry.

The workers had also lodged a complaint at the Labour and Employment Office, Biratnagar last Tuesday demanding services as per the appointment letter and law.

Suresh Majhi, vice president of the Nepal Factory Workers’ Union, said that instead of resolving the problem, the industry expelled the workers on the next day without any discussion and prior information.

According to him, the industry that had agreed to provide appointment letters and minimum wage to the workers a year ago has not provided those letters or minimum service facilities to the workers who have been working for more than one and a half decades.

The industry had earlier agreed to provide minimum wages and appointment letters to the workers on July 5, 2020 after the Labor and Employment Office decided to take action against the industry after receiving the complaint from the workers. Majhi says that the situation was further complicated after the workers were expelled without following the agreement.

Currently, 750 workers are employed in the industry. Sri Prasad Sah, president of the Nepal Factory Workers' Union, Morang, complained that the industry has not complied with the preconditions of giving appointment letters to the workers according to the law and discuss with trade unions when appointing and retiring any workers. Despite repeated discussions and negotiations between the agitating workers and the industry administration, the problem has not been resolved.

General Manager of the industry Mukesh Kothari did not want to comment on workers being expelled from the industry and the ongoing protest. Ram Prasad Timalsina, information officer at the Labor and Employment Office, Biratnagar, said that a letter has been sent to the industry to study the latest complaint lodged by the workers and provide details. He said that action would be taken against the industry if the workers were not given appointment letters and remuneration as per the agreement and rules.