Various trade unions have begun joint homework to revise the minimum wage rate and other compensations to the workers. Bishnu Rimal, President of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) said, as the current minimum wage of Rs 4,650 per month is not enough to sustain the life due to increasing inflation, preparations are underway to hike the wage.

 

“We have begun homework to decide on whether to increase the minimum wage rate only or to increase the entire compensation package,” Rimal said. Along with GEFONT, All Nepal Trade Union Federation and Nepal Trade Union Congress Independent are participating in the discussion.

       Meanwhile, tourism sector workers have demanded the authorities concerned for a raise in their compensation. All Nepal Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union (ANHRWU) has demanded for minimum Rs 10 thousand as wage and transparency in the distribution of the money collected by way of 10 per cent service charge.  The 15-point demand sheet presented by the Union also asks to collect in the social security fund the money that is collected by the government as 1 per cent social security tax. Prakash Shrestha, General Secretary of ANHRWU also said that the workers must get additional Rs 5,000 in the existing salary. He added that the salary and wages must be incremented every two years to adjust with the price rise.