Twenty managers of Surya Nepal Private Limited have been locked up within the company’s factory premises in Simra by the workers who are demanding raise in their wages.

According to a press statement by the company, “More than 20 managers of Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. have been held hostage by a handful of office bearers of Surya Tobacco Mazdoor Union.”

The company has termed the demands made by the workers as “not only illegal but have no basis, and are unjustified.”

The company has informed that since 3 pm on November 8, “the Union went on a fast unto death program in front of the factory gate and have resorted to complete stoppage of operations from 6 pm on that date.”

According to the company, its problem with the Surya Tobacco Mazdoor Union –the authorized trade union of the factory – started two and a half months ago when Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd., Simra Factory was confronted with a series of unlawful demands perpetuated by the union.

The company further informed that after the government had increased the minimum wages for workers – raising the minimum basic salary from Rs. 1700 to Rs. 2200 and minimum dearness allowance from Rs. 860 to Rs. 1100 – it, too, revised the same for those workmen in the organization whose Basic salary and Dearness allowance levels were below the notified amounts with effect from August 15.

“Post making this revision, the union in subsequent communications stated that it is unjustified and discriminatory to increase the wages only for those workmen whose existing basic salary and dearness allowance is below the minimum wages and the same increase should be given to all the workmen in the unit, for even those earning more than twice or thrice of the minimum wages,” the company states in the press statement.

It further claims that since then, the union has resorted to “protests like wearing black bands during duty hours, relay hunger strike by seven people for 8 hrs at the factory gate and Go slow in production.” And now they have started their fast unto death program.

The company claims that it has been pleading with the Union to settle the dispute through negotiation. It has also pointed out that the Union can knock the doors of either the Labor Office, the Labor Ministry or the Appellate Court.

“The Union unfortunately has not heeded this and gone ahead with their aforesaid actions. While these actions are currently directed against the SNPL factory management at Simra only, the same may have ramifications for industry across the country in the future,” the company warns.