The Nepalese textile and garment industry has been going through a very difficult period in the last few years. Unit after unit are announcing closures either in the textile or garment industry. This is leading to massive unemployment among the local and giving rise to discontent among the unions and workers.
The government in the past has resorted to half hearted measures to revive the defunct sector, but has not met with success. Now fed up with growing layoffs, the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Union (GEFONT) has demanded restarting of all the closed units at the earliest.
They have demanded re-opening of Krishna Pashmina Industry, Butwal Spinning Mills, Jyoti Spinning Mills, Gopi Kapada and Tribeni Textile & Jute Mills amongst many others. The Union has alleged that some of the companies have breached wage agreements and shut operations to avoid paying remunerative wages to the workers.
Recently, the government had facilitated in creating a new wage agreement between Unions and the workers for different work categories except for the jute industry. In the case of textiles and garment industry, although an agreement was reached, it was decided to set up a committee to recommend a new wage agreement.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India