With some civil servants also joining the pro-democracy movement of the country, the government has prohibited strikes in the 15 different essential services by exercising the authority provided in the Essential Services Operation Act, 2014 B.S.

The essential services where the strikes have been prohibited include the postal, telecommunications and telephone services, transportation services, ferrying passengers and goods from waterways, land or airways, services related to the airports or to the care and maintenance of aircraft, their operation or repair, services related to airport, railway station or the services related to works in connection with transportation, storage, placing and taking out of goods and cargo at government warehouses and services concerning mint and government printing and publication.

Likewise, additional services where strikes have been banned are the government’s defense system related to the manufacture, production, storage and distribution of arms and ammunition; communication, electricity, drinking water regulating and distribution service; services related to tourist accommodation like motel, hotel, restaurant and resorts; service related to the importation and supply of petroleum products; services related to hospitals, health centres and pharmaceutical production and distribution; services related to the collection and transportation of garbage and solid waste, construction of the solid waste processing and collection zone and solid waste management; banking service and the insurance service.

Issuing a press statement on Tuesday, the Home Ministry notified everyone involved in the above-mentioned services not to be swayed by anyone and carry out their duty and also warned that action would be taken against those not heeding the orders and staging strikes at the fixed essential service sectors, reports state run news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti.

As per the Essential Services Act, any person acting against the notice prohibiting strikes issued by the government would be liable for six months’ imprisonment or a fine of Rs. 200 or both and the person instigating anyone to carry out such prohibited acts would be liable for one year’s imprisonment or a fine of Rs. 1,000 or both, the Ministry said.

The move came at a time when employees of some Banks, Corporations and some civil servants have joined the pro-democracy movement launched by the seven political parties bringing the office work into halt. nepalnews.com pb Apr 12 06