KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Balen Shah has been given an ultimatum by municipal employees to ensure salary payments within a week.
The Local Level Employees Association issued a statement on Wednesday, criticizing Mayor Shah for allegedly prioritizing social media posts over problem-solving. The association warned that if the issue is not resolved promptly, employees will launch a strike.
The statement accused Mayor Shah of worsening the situation by using vulgar, unwanted, and inflammatory words on social media, instead of coordinating with provincial and federal governments to resolve the issue.
“When the leadership of the metropolis should be responsible and serious about finding a coordinated solution, such activities appear to be driven by arrogance rather than problem-solving,” the letter, signed by association president Narayan Prasad Sharma, stated.
The association further alleged that KMC’s Chief Administrative Officer has repeatedly acted on verbal orders from the mayor, bypassing established procedures and protocols.
Claiming that their concerns have been ignored in the past, the association warned, “If the problems of general employees are not resolved within a week, all professionals will unite in a strong protest, and the leadership will bear full responsibility for the consequences.”
Similarly, teachers employed under KMC have also issued an ultimatum, demanding an immediate resolution of the salary issue.
The Nepal Teachers Federation Metropolitan Committee recently submitted a formal letter urging the mayor to ensure that salaries are deposited into bank accounts by the third week of Chaitra.
Amid growing pressure from thousands of city employees, Mayor Shah has intensified his social media activity. On Monday evening, he posted a controversial statement, allegedly threatening to bury everyone in Tukucha if his staff do not receive their salaries within a week.”
Mayor Shah has repeatedly urged the federal government to assign a new Chief Administrative Officer. However, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has directed the current Chief Administrative Officer, Saroj Guragain, who has been restricted from office duties, to continue in his role.
In response, Mayor Shah wrote a letter stating that working with Guragain was impossible and instead requested the appointment of a branch officer with financial authority. The ministry has since remained silent on the matter.
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