HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: The difficult worker-management relations has hit yet another company.
The Explore Nepal Group office has remained closed since a week as the workers of Gaida Wildlife Camp — a closed subsidiary of the group — padlocked it asking for their payment of salary.
Workers associated with Nepal Independent Hotel Workers Union had padlocked Explore Nepal Group office after the management failed to pay their salary and benefits last Wednesday, according to secretary of the union Deepak Sapkota. “We are planning to intensify the protest from Wednesday, if the company failed to reach agreement within two days,” he said, adding that they are planning intense protest from Thursday.
They are compelled to go on strike after the management refused to pay salary and benefits – service fee, gratuity and allowances – to workers of Gaida Wildlife Camp that was closed in July 2009 following the dispute with Chitwan National Park administration.
“The management failed to pay salary and benefits to workers according to February 2, 2011 agreement,” he added. In the agreement, Explore Nepal had agreed to pay salary of the year 2010 and 2011 along with 10 per cent service tax, allowances, grades and compensation equivalent to four months’ salary to the workers affected by the closure of Gaida Wildlife Camp.
The Explore Nepal is a leading tourism house in the country which is operating Bhojan Griha, Kantipur Temple House, Koshi Tappu Wildlife and Gau Ghar hotel.
Gaida Wildlife Camp was closed two years ago following expiry of 16 year lease contract with Chitwan National Park.
According to the workers, they asked the management to pay the money repeatedly but management did not respond them. “Even the management did not come in meeting called by Department of labour in April,” said Sapkota.
The management of Explore Nepal accepted that they have to pay salary and benefits. “I have paid salary and benefits of workers till July 2009,” managing director of Explore Nepal Bharat Bahadur Basnet said, adding that the company cannot pay salary and benefits of 2010 and 2011 because the hotel had been already closed.
According to Basnet, the agreement of February 2, 2011 was done forcefully against his will. “I am ready to give provident and gratuity of workers,” he said, adding that he needs some times to settle the dues.
He urged the government to mediate in the dispute. “Ministry of Labour and Transport Management or Department of Labour should come in front to mediate,” Basnet said, adding that he had to pay provident and gratuity of some workers out of 35, who had worked in Gaida Wildlife Camp.
Source : http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Closure+of+Explore+Nepal+office+continues&NewsID=301017
