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KATHMANDU, May 17: The Ministry of Labor and Transport Management (MoLTM) is preparing to introduce new minimum salary package, incorporating agreements to introduce social security for workers and rise in salary and daily wage signed over the past two months.
Employers´ associations and three major trade unions had signed an agreement to introduce social security package and raise salary and daily wage of workers on March 24. Labor Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi signed another agreement on April 16, due to protest from two factions of pro-Maoist trade union and trade union of Madhesi parties,.
“We will introduce new salary and remuneration package within a week as per the agreement signed on April 16, while the social security package will be formulated in line with the March 24 pact,” a high-level source at the MoLTM told Republica on Monday.
As per the April 16 pact, minimum monthly salary of workers will increase by Rs 1,600 to Rs 6,200, whereas the minimum daily wage will rise to Rs 231.
“We will make it mandatory for all employers and trade unions to follow the new package. This will be a win-win situation for both sides,” the source added.
The MoLTM is also preparing to set up a Social Security Secretariat, having representation from concerned government agencies, employers and trade unions, to manage the fund collected through Social Security Tax.
Employers´ associations, however, are cautiously watching the new developments. “We will present our formal response on the package once it is formally introduced,” said Pashupathi Murarka, chairman of Employers´ Council of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).
Bishnu Rimal, president of UML-affiliated General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions, said major trade unions were still sticking to the pact signed on March 24.
“The pact between Labor Minister Rayamajhi and representatives of fringe trade unions is one-sided. We can´t be compelled to follow that agreement,” Rimal added.
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