Catering workers demand service charge

From GEFONT bulletins and the Kathmandu Post, 24 February 2001

The government announcement to ban strikes in the hotel, restaurant, resort, and accommodation services, restricts fundamental trade union rights of workers, says the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT).

Trade union rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are significant aspects of a dynamic democratic system. The rights of workers to organise, to make demands, and to struggle by means of protest and strike are fundamental rights in a democratic system. However, the government has violently attacked these rights and the democratic process by using the Essential Services Act 1957 to suppress the current campaign by hotel and catering workers for a 10 percent service charge.

The unions involved believe labour disputes can be resolved through discussion if only the government would play a mediating role. But by repressing the democratic process, the government is attacking the rights of the workers. The unions strongly oppose this step and demand its immediate withdrawal.

On 4 April, the Supreme Court of Nepal issued a ‘show-cause’ notice against the government.

In March a government report seemed to agree to a service charge in principle, but failed to fix the rate. In fact the report did not use the words ‘service charge’ in it’s attempt to find common ground between the unions and the belligerent employers’ association.