We respect to Rt. Hon’able President as symbol of our national unity and faithful tower of our republic!

January 23rd, 2016

We respect to Rt. Hon’able President as symbol of our national unity and faithful tower of our republic. To maintain the dignity of this prestigious institutions that we Nepalis have established after decades of our struggle, is our duty. Therefore, we trust – Rt. Hon’able President, as a respected institution of all Nepali, will bring back the almost lost compassion and good will among the people of Nepal.

Right Honourable President, 
Honourable Minister and 
Honourable members of Legislature-Parliament,

Today we are here to participate in the first ever meeting of labour-parliament, the representative body for working class. On this occasion of inaugural session of the meeting I would like to greet representatives from employers’ organisations along with all the invited guests, leaders and cadres of different trade unions, media persons, ladies and gents,

Our country is hurting; Earthquake was natural disaster, unrest in Southern plain is a result of disagreement among us.

World of work is affected by both. According to specialists, in this period the country has already bore revenue loss of approximately 50 billion rupees. Hundreds and thousands of workers are without work, children are unable to attend their school.

We are in the proximity of humanitarian crisis. The compassion shared among people from North to South, East to West – our centuries old tradition of mutual help towards all irrespective of origin is now in question.

We respect to Rt. Hon’able President as symbol of our national unity and faithful tower of our republic. To maintain the dignity of this prestigious institutions that we Nepalis have established after decades of our struggle, is our duty. Therefore, we trust – Rt. Hon’able President, as a respected institution of all Nepali, will bring back the almost lost compassion and good will among the people of Nepal.

Today we take pride that for the first time in history of Nepal, the head of the state is participating in the event of Nepali trade union. We feel this is the high respect given by the state to the Nepali working class; The sentence in constitution regarding “dignity of work”, “Labour cannot be contempt and to prohibit any such acts legal provisions can be made” has now been implemented.

Rt. Hon’able President,

The works of trade unions all over the world are similar, advocating for rights and interest of working class. Rights- as of provisioning in Constitution, Laws and Acts, and Interests- the benefits beyond the provisions, acquired from bilateral and multilateral collective agreements.

But process of forming trade unions may differ. In some countries there is single union; where, the agreements done by trade union with employers’ organisations becomes the law of the land.  In some countries multiple unions compete. In some countries there is closed-shop practice- workers in the world of work have to have union membership whereas in some there is open shop; it is not compulsory to have union membership. In some countries workers with irregular labour relation to highly sensitive profession including armed force have trade union rights whereas in other countries trade union rights is for all the sectors apart from security agencies and public service.

We have organised our approach after 2006 peoples’ movement. Almost after the hard work of eight years, a unique structure -Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre (JTUCC) was formed.

The journey started by the two trade unions with an agreement to work together on the common issues and agendas has now come to a point where all Nepali trade unions, recognised by the law, come together to formulate common issues, common perspectives and consensus in decision makings. This Centre has now been transformed into a common institution for trade unions with different perspectives and sector. Therefore we say – Unity in Diversity!

• Declare union membership voluntarily and pay dues to the centre based on declared membership
• Allocate representatives according to the paid-dues. Irrespective of the numbers of representatives, the decisions will not be taken on the basis of majority/minority and agenda will not be accepted/rejected.
• Not entertain differences based on small or big unions but ascribe roles of the large and small trade unions with dignity as per the statue of JTUCC

These are some of the approaches we have applied.

We call our regular working institute Presidium, a main committee cabinet. And, the structure to review the work annually and draft future work is called labour parliament.  Like democratic state has legislative and executive bodies to check and balance, we have provisioned these structures for our Centre.

Today to become member of JTUCC is matter of pride for Nepali trade unions and trade unionists; and JTUCC has become subject of interest for international trade union movement. To become its President or General Secretary is to be a representative of working class recognised by the state who represents the Nepali working class in the country and at international forum. The labour parliament meets annually, forms a team of President, General Secretary, Women Committee Coordinator and Secretary to lead the Centre for a year effective from January 1.

Like this we have tried to manage multiple voices into One by establishing a unified institution of the trade unions as per Nepali reality to address the demand of workers belonging to the same economic class. This way, we have sown multi trade unions emerged due to a system of multiparty democracy based on divergent ideologies. Therefore, we call this structure a unique structure.

Her Excellency President,

We work at both, the professional and the policy level. Therefore we have some unfinished agendas with the Government:

1. The Bill, assuring Social Security system to protect all the workers, formulated in a trilateral agreement of Government – Employers and trade unions has finally reached the parliament. We are hopeful that it will be adopted at earliest possible.
2. The bill to amend the labour law formed by tripartite agreement to make the world of work flexible in employment relationship is yet to be presented in parliament.
3. The minimum wage has to be revisited and implemented from this fiscal year is yet to be done.
4. Trade Unions are willing to work hand in hand with the State in reconstruction post the earthquake. From managing the workers in reconstruction to monitoring the on going reconstruction work at village level, trade unions want to be involved. Therefore, JTUCC wants Trade union representation in the Authority.
5. 10% representation from working class in several state mechanisms in par with the employers.
6. Nepalis should not be forced to go to foreign countries in search of employment; there should be sufficient job opportunities in the country. And, their earnings- the remittance should be invested in productive sectors.

Rt Hon’able President,

We like to call these agendas subjects of decent work. In our understanding decent work is-

• Such a pay which enables the workers live a fair life
• Such a work where there is no discrimination, where every worker has equal opportunity to strengthen his financial condition
• Such a workplace, which is appropriate and safe
• Such an environment where trade union can be formed, worker can freely express her/his opinion regarding work
• Such a state, which has Social security mechanism in place to protect the sick, weak and old workers and can provide welfare for all victims in difficult condition.

This is probably my last address as a President of JTUCC. Therefore I would like to express gratitude to Rt Hon’able President on behalf of our 20 hundred thousand members. As President of JTUCC, I would like to welcome Hon’able Minister for Industry, Members of legislature-parliament, and invited guests and with your permission conclude my address.

Thank You!

Bishnu Rimal
(President’s address to the first meeting of the Labour Parliament)

Date: December 21, 2015