KATHMANDU: Seventy percent of industries are found to have defied the government’s decision to fully pay workers of formal sectors for the month of Chaitra (March-April).

During a primary survey on the status of distribution of remuneration and operation of industries during lockdown by the Whole Trade Union Nepal (WHIN), only 30 percent of industries were found giving the full payment of March-April to their workers.

The survey covers 219 industries associated with the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GFONT), in the five States with industrial density.

The study finding is that 87 workers in State-1, 58 percent in State-2, 68 percent in Bagmati State, 68 percent in Gandaki State and a hundred percent of workers in State-5 were not given payment on a regular basis.

Workers of multinational companies, hydropower companies, food industries and drugs industries were getting the payment regularly and such industries were operational during the lockdown.

Though the government had issued a notice in the national gazette seeking the full payment to formal sector workers for the month of Chaitra, it seemed majority of industrialists were not serious to implement the government decision, said WHIN chair Anand Thami.

He stressed the government should take a strict measure for the interest of workers and those abiding by the government directive should be deprived of state facilities.

During the lockdown, 24.65 percent of industries were operated regularly, 15 percent partially and around 60 percent have remained completely closed.