FNCCI chief deplores ‘political meddling’ in industrial sector

December 15, 2008
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In the wake of continued closure of factories in some industrial estates over wage dispute, president of the Federation of the Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), Kush Kumar Joshi, has said political interference has been a major stumbling block to industrial growth.

Addressing the inaugural function of the district convention of Narayangadh Chamber of Commerce and Industrials, in Narayangadh, on Monday, Joshi said that political parties have not been sensitive toward the problems facing the business sector. He even accused the political parties of espousing the causes of labour unions at the cost of industrial production.

“Parties remain as indifferent towards promoting the private sector as in the past,” he said, adding that industries have not been able to operate smoothly mainly due to political interference.

The FNCCI chief’s statement comes at a time when over two dozen industries in Birgunj-Pathlaiya corridor remain closed for the past four days with workers padlocking the factories demanding that the managements immediately raise the basic pay by Rs 1300, as agreed at a recent tripartite (government-managements and labour union) talks.

Minister for Industries, Astha Laxmi Shakya, was in Bara Sunday to inspect the closed industrial estate. During the visit, she met some leaders of labour unions and asked them to return to work considering the adverse impact a prolonged strike would cause on the economy.

Some factories in the industrial corridor have resumed operation following negotiations with the workers but two dozen industries including the multinational company Surya Nepal, still remain shut. nepalnews.com mk Dec 15 08