Kathmnadu, May 4: Third National Congress of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) ended with adoption of a 16 point resolution that promises a volume of goodies to Nepalese workers.

The resolution protests against non-implementation of Labour Act, “blind privatisation” of public enterprises and immediate stoppage of unfair labour practices. And, demands end of subcontracting, compulsory security provisions for workers in adventurous jobs, provision for issuing identity cards to workers, formation of permanent wage board, diplomatic protection to Nepalese migrant workers and guarantee on right to unionise.

The congress also elected new national committee of GEFONT that is chaired by Mukunda Neupane. The congress elected Lalit Basnet, Bishnu Rimal and Binod Bhattarai on the posts of Vice Chairman, Secretary General and Treasurer respectively.

Newly elected GEFONT Chairman Mukunda Neupane said that the national political environment is now favourable to push forward strong trade union movement. “There are adequate opportunities to dynamise labour movement and to increase successful intervention in national policies,” he said. He also noted that absolute non-alignment lost its significance, but involvement and resistance has become inevitable. “Instead of boycott and isolated opposition, respected involvement and firm resistance in various international forums is our stand for the days to come,” he declared.

Calling for international solidarity of workers to safeguard workers’ rights world-wide in a context of globalised economy and trade, Neupane pointed out the immediate need of establishing South Asian level network of trade unionists. He further noted that in order to make the national workers’ movement stronger, Nepalese unionists needed to focus on incorporating agriculture workers into their movement.

Neupane also declared the launch of “GEFONT Campaign in the New Millennium” that includes campaigning for workers’ education, organisational expansion, unified trade union movement, social security, implementation of labour laws, gender equality, workers’ co-operative movement, security of migrant workers and expansion of international relations with trade unions from abroad.