KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the party has consistently played a vital role in the advancement of the Trade Union Act, Labour Act, and the Social Security Fund in Nepal.
Extending his best wishes for happiness, peace, and prosperity to all Nepalis on the occasion of International Workers’ Day, Deuba emphasized the importance of addressing the ongoing challenges faced by Nepali workers.
“The NC remains committed to safeguarding and promoting the rights and interests of the working class. It is actively working to ensure a conducive working environment, social security, fair wages and benefits, professional dignity, and respect by addressing the concerns of workers,” his message stated.
International Labour Day, observed globally on May 1, commemorates the historic workers’ movement in Chicago in 1886 that called for eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, and eight hours of leisure.
In Nepal, the labour movement began following the establishment of the Biratnagar Jute Mill in 1993 BS. The first major workers’ protest took place in 2003 BS under NC leadership, demanding better rights and facilities.
The then autocratic regime brutally suppressed the movement, arresting several leaders including the prominent BP Koirala. This movement is regarded as a precursor to the historic 2007 BS people’s revolution that led to the establishment of democracy in Nepal.
Deuba noted that the Nepali Congress and the labour movement have always been interconnected, serving as mutual sources of strength.
He further recalled that Nepal’s first democratically elected government, led by the NC in 2016 BS, enacted key legislation related to workers and factories, thereby securing legal rights for the labour force. He added that the NC was the first to adopt a policy of a liberal economy with social justice to develop Nepal’s labour market.
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