Birgunj, June 20: Member of parliament Prakash Man Singh has called on labour unions such as the Democratic Confederation of Nepalese Trade Union (DECONT) to work for the protection and promotion of labour rights and welfare.

Singh was inaugurating a four days long leadership development training camp organised under the joint auspices of the democratic confederation of nepalese trade unions (DECONT) and the Frederic Ebert Stiftung here the other day.

Labour unions should work day and night for the protection of the rights and welfare of the workers and strengthen themselves so as to play a pivotal role in consolidating democracy in the country, he said.

Former MP Pradip Giri spoke of the need for the DECONT to launch a struggle for safeguarding democracy and to act as a watchdog against any wrongdoing by the leaders.

The union should also act as a check and balance against the despotic tendency that is sometimes seen among the leaders and work for social justice of the workers, he added.

Various trade union leaders including central treasurer of Nepal Teachers’ Union Harihar Shahi, president of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry Umesh Chandra Thakur, Fes Representative Nawaraj Dahal, chief district officer of Bara District Hiramani Bhandari, chief district officer of Parsa Dolakh Bahadur Gurung and Parsa DDC chairman Janardan Singh Chhetri also expressed their views at the programme. Central president of DECONT Rajendra Bahadur Raut presided over the programme.