Subject: call for solidarity
Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 12:28:34 +0530
From: GEFONT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Call for solidarity and protests
Friends/ Brothers & sisters
Warm greetings from GEFONT-Nepal
As in past, we feel an urgent need of your solidarity messages &
protest letters in connection with Annarula Pvt. Ltd., which has
victimized its workers in a conspiratorial & inhumane manner.
The Annarula Pvt. Ltd. was established in Kathmandu 14 years ago. The
owners were two princesses � Helen Shah & Jayanti Shah � as well as
Sahadev Samsher Rana & Kapil Rana. But the responsibility of
management was given to the Delhi-based Nirullas Corner House Pvt.
Ltd. and specifically managed by Deepak Nirulla, an Indian citizen.
Three tourist standard good restaurants in Kathmandu & Pokhara were
under operation.
The company actually needed 150 workers, but it had employed only 60
workers and used them to the maximum limit. The workers were working
under the worst conditions of highly exploitative, inhumane &
harassment as well as frequent corporal punishment. In 1994, the
workers tried to be organized and registered their union in Dept. of
Labor. As it was affiliated to Nepal Independent Hotel Workers Union
(National Federation under GEFONT umbrella), the federation has been
doing collective bargaining & negotiations with the management � two
times in the past years. But the management was intentionally not
implementing the agreements & negotiations. This time in June1998,
the union forwarded its charter of demand under the provisions of the
labor law. But the manager, during the tripartite talks in labor
office, empasized that the company was going to establish 12
restaurants in different parts of Nepal and that the demand couldn't
be fulfilled this year. Workers took a liberal attitude. Finally, in
cordial environment, the agreement was signed, the major points were:
i. Withdrawing the charter of demand
ii. Demands to be presented after a year in June 1999
iii. Nothing to be curtailed what the workers are getting at present
Surprisingly, the management issued notice to the workers that the
dress will not be given this year and working hours without overtime
payment will be increased for the betterment of the company. The
workers protested and the management called on police by accusing the
workers of destruction & damage. Police found no sign of destruction
& damage and returned after warning the management not to call again
on such false grounds. Suddenly the same night, an illegal lockout
was done and the manager and his group fled to Delhi. Then the owners
came in the forefront and in table talk with workers was organized in
the presence of labor office officials. The illegal lockout was put
to an end on 26th of September 1998. However, it was a conspiracy and
again on 30 Sept. 1998, the owners locked out illegally. Workers and
the union filed application in labor office against the action. After
investigation, the labor office declared the lockout illegal and
issued the order on 28 October 1998 to reopen the company at once.
However, after lingering for a long period and ignoring the order,
management has decided to liquidate the company. Workers are now in
picketing and have been launching the program of struggle.
We urge and request to all our colleagues and like-minded
organizations to send solidarity messages to the struggling union via
GEFONT-DFA and protest letters to the company and the Ministry of
Labor. Thank you very much for your continuous cooperation.
in solidarity
Umesh Upadhyaya
Chief, GEFONT-DFA
Addresses for the protest letters:
Annarula Pvt.Ltd
Darbar marga, Kathmandu
Fax: 977-1-225236
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Labour Ministry
Tridevi Marga, Kathmandu
Fax: 977-1-419251
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