Kathmandu,Aug.26: Government through a gazette notification Thursday banned strikes by employees in essential services units– a move protested by workers who say it infringes their democratic right to strike.

The government took the drastic decision after a nation-wide  prolonged strike by public sector enterprise employees demanding increased salaries and perks; the strike paralysed work in banks and other essential service units inconveniencing customers and resulting in huge losses to the national economy.

The employees this month called off the two month protest only after government agreed to consider the demands through negotiations. The move was a compromise. ” The ban restricts the fundamental right of workers to strike for their interests; the decision is an attempt to curb freedoms enshrined in the constitution and should be immediately withdrawn,” a statement said.

Thousands of employees of government owned banks, Nepal Telecommunications Corporation, Nepal Electricity Authority and other smaller units went on a strike crippling the national economy.

It is not certain whether this move will, in the future, will prevent similar strikes. The trade unions affiliated with the government or the opposition have not reacted to the government move.