Surya Nepal shuts garment unit

Surya Nepal Garment has closed down from today due to labour problem.
Since 3 PM yesterday (June 14, 2011) the workforce at the Surya Nepal garments factory at Biratnagar took hostage of around thirty managers on duty within the factory premises demanding that the company give them written assurances and guarantees for paying wages for the six days’ strike during last month.
The managers took a principled stand and requested that all managers on duty be immediately released before talks. However, the workforce did not listen and instead threatened and turned hostile.
They kept the managers, including a pregnant woman confined within the factory premises without food and water throughout the night.
After unsuccesful attempts, the company alerted the district security officials and sought their help to release the confined staff.
Today morning, the security officials and police entered the factory premises and tried unsuccessfully to settle the issues with the workforce in releasing the confined staff. The workforce not only refused to release staff but also refused food and water to them.
Finally at three in the afternoon, after a 24 hour siege, the police had to step in to forcibly release of the confined staff and take them to safety, outside the factory premises.
But the workforce started rampage within the factory premises. After the destructive activities of the workers, the police force had again to forcibly evict the rampaging workers from the factory premises.
The company has also discussed with all Trade Union bodies – major and fractional — and they have all denied their involvement in the activity and condemned the attack on Surya Nepal.
The Morang Chamber of Commerce also condemned the attack and has very clearly stated threat the rule ‘No Work, No Pay’ shall be applicable and binding to all.
The Company along with the District authorities and the Morang Chamber of Commerce has termed the strike and confinement of the company managers for over 24 hours without food and water a totally illegal act.Due to the extraordinary situation the company has declared a lockout, said the company.
Surya nepal is one of the largest garment unit in the country.
Earlier, the employers and the three major trade unions have entered into an agreement to implement 'No Work, No Pay', social security for the workers and hike the salary and the daily wages but the UCPN-Maoists splinter faction and some Tarai -based trade unions protested against the agreement.