Trade unions threaten to shut restaurants nationwide

Trade unions of hotels and restaurant workers have threatened to close the restayrents nationawide demanding rollback of a decision to withdraw 10 per cent service charge levied on restaurant bill.
Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal (REBAN) – a professional body of restaurants and bars across the country – had last week decided to withdraw 10 per cent service charge in Kathmandu, Sauraha and Pokhara, citing complaints from consumers. It also said that other restaurants and bars in other cities will withdraw the service charge gradually.
All Nepal Hotel Casino and Restaurant Workers Association, Casino and Restaurant Workers Union, and National Tourism and Hotel Associated Workers’ Union organised a rally today demanding REBAN to withdraw its decision of scrapping service chargeand also threatened to close all restaurants and bars from Tuesday, if the decision is not rolled back immediately.
A day after REBAN took a decision to scrap service charge, the trade unions had given a 24-hour ultimatum for rollback of the decision.
The mandatory service charge system came into force on January 1, 2007. Since then, hotel and restaurant customers have been paying 24.3 per cent extra on the restaurant bill as 10 per cent compulsory service charge, 13 per cent value added tax (VAT) and 1.3 per cent service tax. The VAT and service tax go to the government.
REBAN, Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) and trade unions of hotels and restaurant workers had revised the agreement on May 26, 2018 to provide larger share from funds collected from 10 per cent service charge to workers. The agreement had come into effect on June 8, 2018. Under the revision, hotel employees would get 72 per cent, the hotel management would get 23 per cent and HAN would get 2 percent. The trade unions claim that instead of giving workers their due share, REBAN chose to scrap the service charge.
"REBAN has acted against the spirit of the agreement," president of All Nepal Hotel, Casino and Restaurant Workers Association Madhav Pandey said, adding that they are forced to go streets.
However general secretary of REBAN Araniko Rajbhandari said that there was no point conducting protest as the Supreme Court has also issued a show cause notice against the decision. REBAN – also issuing a press note today – said that it is serious about the well being of its workers. “We have already taken needful initiative to implement basic salary announced by the government," the note reads, adding that tips collected from the clients will be distributed among workers.
But the three trade unions affiliated to the ruling and opposition parties have decided to shut down all member restaurants of the Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal for an indefinite period from Tuesday onwards.
"The service charge is workers’ rights and has to be implemented at any cost," according to president of Casino and Restaurant Workers Union Surya Bahadur Kunwar, and president of National Tourism and Hotel Associated Workers’ Union Khemraj Khadka.
But the consumer rights activists have welcomed the REBAN’s decision. The rights group said that the Consumer Act and the Constitution stipulate that consumers not be cheated on the pretext of collecting a service charge.

थपिँदै २५ मेगावाट बिजुलीे, वीरगन्ज पनि लाेडसेडिङ मुक्त हुने

केन्द्रीय प्रसारण लाइनमा बुधबारदेखि २५ मेगावाट बिजुली थपिने भएको छ । ढल्केबर–मुज्जफपुर अन्तरदेशीय प्रसारण लाइनको पूर्ण क्षमता प्रयोग गर्दा प्राविधिक समस्या आउने भएकाले नेपाल विद्युत् प्राधिकरणले भारतबाट सम्झौताभन्दा कम २५ मेगावाट बिजुली ल्याउन लागेको हो ।
यसअघि विद्युत प्राधिकरण र भारतको नोडल एजेन्सी एनभिभिएन विद्युत् व्यापार कम्पनी लिमिटेडबीच अन्तरदेशीय प्रसारणलाइनबाट थप ८० मेगावाट बिजुली खरिदबिक्री सम्झौता (पिपिए) भएको थियो । पुस १७ देखि ४० मेगावाट र माघ १९ गतेदेखि ४० मेगावाट गरी  ८० मेगावाट बिजलुी ल्याउन सम्झौता भएको थियो ।
तर, बुधबारदेखि २५ मेगावाट मात्र बिजुली थप हुने प्राधिकरण कार्यकारी निर्देशक कुलमान घिसिङले बताए । ढल्केबर–मुज्जफपुर अन्तरदेशीय प्रसारणलाइनको पूर्ण क्षमताअनुरुप ४० मेगावाट विद्युतु आयात गरे बिजुली ‘फल्क्चुयेट’ भइरहने भएकाले प्राविधिकरुपमा समस्या आउन नदिन हाललाई सम्झौताअनुसार १५ मेगावाट कम बिजुली आयात हुने उनले स्पष्ट पारे । ‘सम्झौताअनुसार कम बिजुली आयात भए पनि अब लोडसेडिङ हुँदैन’ उनले थपे । तर, उनका अनुसार रक्सौल–परवानीपुर तथा कसाहा–कटैया प्रसारण लाइन बनेपछि भने चाहिएको खण्डमा थप बिजुली आयात गर्न सकिने छ । 
भारतबाट तीन सय ५५ मेगावाट बिजुली आयात भएकोमा बुधबारदेखि २५ मेगावाट थपिएर तीन सय ८० मेगावाट पुग्ने छ । गत वर्ष तीन सय ४७ मेगावाटसम्म बिजुली आयात भएको थियो ।
नदीको पानी घटेर बिजुली उत्पादनमा केही कमी आए पनि पछिल्लो समयमा माग नबढेकाले लोडसेडिङ व्यवस्थापन हुनेमा प्राधिकरण ढुक्क छ । हाल समग्र विद्युत् प्रणालीमा अझै तीन सय ९९ मेगावाट बिजुली अपुग छ तर पनि आधारभूत रुपमा लोडसेडिङ हटेको छ । विशेषतः माघ, फागुन, चैत र वैशाखमा मागअनुसार बिजुली अपुग भए पनि लोडसेडिङ भने नहुने निश्चित भएको उनले नागरिकसँग बताए । जेठपछि स्वदेशमै बिजुली उत्पादन आठ सय  मेगावाट हाराहारी पुग्ने जानकारी उनले दिए । घिसिङका अनुसार उपत्यका लोडसेडिङमुक्त हभइसकेको छ भने उपत्यकाबाहिर तराईमा हाल दैनिक २ घण्टा र उद्योगमा ४ घण्टा लोडसेडिङ छ ।
प्राधिकरणका अनुसार नियमित बिजुली आपूर्ति हुन थालेपछि अहिले माग घटेर एक हजार दुई सय ६५ मेगावाटमा सीमित भएको छ । हाल विद्युत् प्राधिकरणका आयोजनाबाट तीन सय ३४ मेगावाट र निजी क्षेत्रबाट एक सय ७५ मेगावाट बिजुली आपूर्ति भइरहेको छ । भारतबाट ल्याइएको बिजुलीसमेत गरेर आपूर्ति आठ सय ६६ मेगावाट भइरहेको छ ।
काठमाडौं उपत्यकामा हाल बिजुली माग साँझ (पिक आवर) मा तीन सय २० मेगावाट छ । उपभोक्ताले पिक आवरमा प्राधिकरणको अनुरोध मानेर विद्युतीय उपकरण कम चलाइदिएका कारण पनि माग घटेको प्राधिकरणको भनाइ छ ।
चालू आर्थिक वर्षमा ९७ मेगावाटका पाँच ठूला आयोजना सम्पन्न भई राष्ट्रिय विद्युत् प्रणालीमा जोडिएको छ । सबै आयोजना नदीका बहावमा आधारित भएकाले सुक्खा याममा औसत ४० मेगावाटसम्म बिजुली उत्पादन भइरहेको छ । चालू वर्ष थप १५ आयोजना सम्पन्न भई प्रणालीमा एक सय ४२ मेगावाट बिजुली थपिँदै छ ।
सरकारले लोडसेडिङ अन्त्य गर्न भारतबाट पाँच सय ६० मेगावाटसम्म बिजुली आयात गर्ने सोच बनाएको छ ।  तर निर्माणधीन आयोजनाहरू समयमै सम्पन्न भए भारतको भर पर्नुपर्ने स्थिति चाँडै अन्त्य हुने प्राधिकरणको आकलन छ ।

हेटौंडा–कुलेखानी–स्युचाटार १३२ केभी प्रसारणलाइन सञ्चालन
हेटौंडा–कुलेखानी–स्युचाटार १३२ केभी क्षमताको प्रसारणलाइन आइतबारदेखि सञ्चालनमा आउने भएको छ । यसबाट काठमाडौंमा बढी भएको बिजुली हेटांैडा र त्यहाँ बढी भएको बिजुली राजधानी ल्याउन सहज हुनेछ  । विद्युत प्राधिकरणले उक्त प्रसारण लाइनको क्षमता बढाएर १३२ केभी गराएको हो । यो प्रसारणलाइनबाट २ सय मेगावट बिजुली प्रवाह हुनेछ ।
पुस १९ गते हेटौडादेखि राजधानीको मातातीर्थसम्म परीक्षण भइसकेको यो प्रसारण लाइन बीचमा रहेका घर भत्काएर सञ्चालनमा ल्याउन लागिएको हो । यो प्रसारणलाइन कुलेखानी दोस्रो आयोजनाको बिजुली राजधानी आपूर्ति गर्न २०४३ सालमा निर्माण भएको थियो । टावरको एकतर्फमात्र तार राखेर सञ्चालनमा ल्याइएको सो लाइनबाट बढीमा १ सय मेगावाटसम्म बिजुली प्रवाह हुदै आएकोमा अब अर्कोतर्फ पनि तार जडान गरेर क्षमता दोब्बर बनाइएको छ । यो प्रसारणलाइन सञ्चालन भएपछि राजधानीमा थप बिजली आपूर्ति गर्न र बढी भएको बिजुली बाहिर पठाउन सहज हुने प्राधिकरणले जनाएको छ ।

वीरगन्ज पनि लोडसेडिङ मुक्त हुने  
राजधानी जोड्ने खिम्ती–ढल्केबर २२० केभी प्रसारण लाइन पनि सञ्चालनमा आएको छ । प्रसारण लाइन सञ्चालनमा आएपछि तराईका वीरगन्जलगायत अन्य सहरमा देखिएको भोल्टेज समस्या समाधान भएको छ । यसबाट काठमाडौं र पोखरापछि विरगन्ज पनि लोडसेडिङ मुक्त हुनेछ । विरगन्जमा विशेषतः लो भोल्टेज समस्या थियो । ऊर्जामन्त्री जनार्दन शर्माले  २० दिनपछि वीरगञ्ज लोडसेडिङमुक्त हुने बताएका छन् ।

उद्योगी खुसी दक्ष कामदार अभाव
लगातार बिजुली उपलब्ध हुन थालेपछि उद्योगलाई राहत भएको छ । क्षमताको आधामात्र सञ्चालनमा रहेका उद्योगले अब विस्तारै उत्पादन बढाउने नेपाल उद्योग परिसंघका अध्यक्ष हरिभक्त शर्माले बताए । उनका अनुसार उद्योग सत्प्रतिशत क्षमतामा चल्न थाले भने कामदारको माग पनि बढ्छ । तर बजारमा दक्ष कामदारको अभाव छ । शर्मा पनि देशमा दक्ष कामदारको अभाव उद्योगका लागि प्रमुख समस्या हुने बताउँछन् ।

प्राधिकरणमा सर्जिकल स्ट्राइक   
लोडसेडिङ आधारभूत रुपमा हटेपछि विद्युत् प्राधिकरण व्यवस्थापन चुहावट नियन्त्रणमा केन्द्रित गरेको छ । प्राधिकरण तथ्यांकअनुसार विद्युत् चुहावट २६ प्रतिशत हाराहारी छ । दसौं वर्षदेखि बढुवाको फारम पनि नभर्ने अनि एकै ठाउँमा बसेर बिजुली चोर्न सघाउने कर्मचारी सर्जिकल स्ट्राइकमा परेपछि प्राधिकरणका कर्मचारी अहिले आन्दोलनमा छन् । बिजुली चोरीमा आफ्नै कर्मचारीको संलग्नता खुलेपछि प्राधिकरणले एकै पटक झन्डै दुई हजार पाँच सय कर्मचारी सरुवा गरेको विरोधमा कांग्रेस र एमाले सम्बद्ध युनियनले विरोध गरेका हुन् । पहुँचवाला उपभोक्तासँगको मिलेमतोमा उठेको बिलभन्दा कम शुल्क लिएको थाहा पाएपछि प्राधिकरणले बुधबार वितरण तथा ग्राहक सेवा विभागअन्तर्गत देशभर कार्यरत मिटर रिडिङलगायत काममा खटिएका पाँच तह तलका दुई हजार चार सय ८० जना कर्मचारी सरुवा गरेको थियो । प्राधिकरण सुधारका लागि लामो समय एउटै कार्यालयमा रहेका कर्मचारी सरुवा गर्दा विरोधमा प्राधिकरणको क्षेत्रीय कार्यालयहरूमा समेत धर्ना दिइएको छ । कर्मचारी युनियनले प्राधिकरण मुख्यालयमा कार्यकारी निर्देशक घिसिङको कार्यालयमा समेत धर्ना दिएका छन् ।
कांग्रेस र एमाले सम्बद्ध कर्मचारी युनियनले फागुनमा प्राधिकरणको आधिकारिक ट्रेड युनियन निर्वाचन तोकिएको हुँदा कर्मचारी सरुवा गर्न नमिल्ने दाबी गरेका छन् । तर प्राधिकरण व्यवस्थापनले भने माघ १८ पछि मात्र निर्वाचन आचारसंहिता लागू हुने भएकाले त्यसअगावै सरुवा गरेको जनाएको छ । हाल करिब १३ अर्ब रुपैयाँबराबरको करिब २६ प्रतिशत बिजुली चुहावट हुँदै आएको छ । एक प्रतिशत बिजुली चुहावटमा राज्यले ५० करोड रुपैयाँ गुमाउँछ । चुहावट बिजुलीमध्ये आधाभन्दा बढी चोरी हुने गरेको प्राधिकरण्को दाबी छ । गत सोमबार १२ जना वहालवाला तथा निवृत्त कर्मचारीलाई विजुली चोरीमा सघाउ पु¥याएको प्रमाणसहित प्रहरीले पक्राउ गरेको थियो । बुधबार थप तीनजना पक्राउ परेका थिए । अनुसन्धानबाट बिजुली मिटर बिगार्न पूरै च्यानल प्रयोग गरेको खुलेको छ ।

Trade unions give 3-week ultimatum to hotels

The row between the hoteliers and trade unions is going to hit the tourism sector hard, if the government does not intervene immediately, Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) has warned.
Organising a press meet in Kathmandu today, HAN said that the trade unions have given ultimatum to provide them entire 10 per cent service charge amount.
Claiming that the agreement between HAN and unions – some 11 years ago – to share the service charge was not in favour of the workers, the trade unions – Nepal Tourism and Hotel Labourers Association joint struggle committee – have announced protest programs from today. "If our demands are not met, we will be forced to announce more stricter protest from February 12,” a ultimatum letter by the trade unions reads, adding that they have started their protest programs from January 22.
"But the ultimatum given by trade unions could hit the tourism sector hardly as it has just started to pick up again,” president of HAN Amar Man Shakya said speaking at a press meet.
Shakya also said that tourists planning to visit Nepal will cancel their booking and will change their travel plan and go to other countries, if there is disturbance in the tourism sector. “It will directly affect the tourism sector,” he said, adding that the service tax should be charged only after providing quality facilities to the customers. “Making the service charge compulsory has already passed a bad impression to both domestic and foreign tourists.”
In 2006, HAN had decided to levy 10 per cent service charge compulsory from the customer’s after the trade unions and employees pressurised the hoteliers to charge customers. According to the agreement, the amount thus collected from the service tax would be shared between employees and hotel.
The hotel management has been taking 32 per cent of service charge to maintain and improve its facilities and service and employees are getting the remaining 68 per cent of the total service charge. But the trade unions lately have been asking for all the service charge.
The number of tourists travelling to Nepal has started increasing after the massive earthquake in 2015 and the economic blockade imposed by India.
In 2016, more than 700,000 tourists visited Nepal which is around 200,000 more as compared to 2015. But the disturbance in the tourism sector will again push the number of arrivals.
The association also informed the government of the unions demand that is going to hit the tourism sector very hard, Shakya added. "But there is no rationale behind service charge."
The hoteliers have stressed that the hospitality industry needs to remove such additional charges, which is a burden on consumers.
HAN said that as the salary and allowance of the employees in hotels and restaurants are adjusted every two years, there is no rationale behind the protest by trade unions seeking the entire amount levied as service charge.
Taking into context the removal of such charge in neighbouring India, the hospitality business in Nepal also needs to think about removing such service charges, according to HAN. The Indian Department of Consumer Affairs has recently announced that ‘service charges’, which restaurants include in the bill in addition to taxes, are actually optional and not mandatory.
Currently, three tourism and hotel labour associations have demanded that the staff should get all of the amount collected as service charges.
"The concerned authorities will have to take responsibility for any harm caused to the tourism industry from the protest,” the committee said in a joint statement.
The mandatory service charge system came into force on January 1, 2007. Since then, hotel and restaurant customers have been paying 24.3 per cent extra on top of the advertised prices as 10 per cent compulsory service charge and 13 per cent value added tax (VAT).

Human Rights Day marks globally under the theme of '20 Years: Working for your rights'

On one hand the domestic industries lack skilled manpower, on the other around 1,700 youths fly to the deserts of middle east and Malaysia for employment due to government's failure in creating decent work and ensuring just remuneration.

Fare wage is a fundamental rights of a worker as the UN is marking the 20th anniversary of Human Rights Day under the theme '20 Years: Working for your rights' today.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) also focuses on the challenges facing low-paid workers, which are at the centre of economic and social rights.

"One of the fundamental human rights is the right to a just remuneration that ensures an existence worthy of human dignity," ILO senior economist Patrick Belser.

The preamble to the Constitution of the ILO identifies the provision of an adequate living wage as one of the conditions for universal and lasting peace based on social justice," he says, adding that although there is no universally accepted amount that defines such remuneration, it can be described as a wage from full-time work that allows people to lead a decent life considered acceptable by society.

These ideals were crafted in 1919, yet nearly a hundred years later, millions of 'working poor' are struggling to make ends meet.
In the developing world like Nepal, in particular, many workers consider that they never really had an adequate living wage. The pattern of economic growth in recent years in developing and emerging economies has not translated into 'decent work' for all – work that meets people’s aspirations in their working lives, providing them with a decent income.

Even in advanced economies, where average income is much higher, the aspiration of an adequate living wage is not always fulfilled.

In poor countries, the capacity of enterprises to pay is so low that wages are often lower than what many consider to be sufficient for living in dignity. Part of the solution, Belser says, is for governments to pursue policies that are conducive to economic growth and higher productivity, including improving opportunities for education and training.

"But the fact that there are working poor in rich countries shows that economic growth alone is not enough," he explains. "Trade unions can also help the low paid get a fair wage."

However, there is a doubt on politically backed trade unions like in Nepal that has used as a vehicle to power not for the empowerment of the workers.

The ILO supports governments across the world to set minimum wages that take into account not only economic factors, but also the needs of workers and their families," he added.
“Living wage initiatives, like those launched in the UK and US, as well as the steps taken by multinationals to implement living wages in their supply chains, have been helpful too," Bslser said, adding that they should, however, not be seen as substitutes for union rights, minimum wages or collective bargaining.
Studies have shown that paying employees a fair wage can benefit both employees and employers. It motivates staff to work more and better, and contributes to create peace in the workplace and higher productivity.
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of UN Human Rights Day.

The United Nations has highlighted, amongst others, 'economic, social, cultural, civil, political rights and the right to development'. A fair wage is at the heart of these aspirations.

Government officially endorses workers’ minimum salary of Rs 8,000

The government has endorsed the minimum monthly salary and daily wage hike proposed by the Minimum Wage Fixation Committee that had proposed 29 per cent hike in salary to Rs 8,000.

According to Nepal Gazette, factory workers will get Rs 5,100 basic pay and Rs 2,900 dearness allowance per month making a total of Rs 8,000. Likewise, daily wage has been fixed at Rs 318.

However, the salary and wage hike will not be applicable to workers in tea estates, according to the Nepal Gazette.
The trade union affiliated to breakaway faction of UCPN-Maoist, CPN-Maoist has been opposing the hike and pressurising the government to hike salary to Rs 15,000 per month.

Read More: http://businessjournalist.blogspot.com/2013/05/employers-employee-agree-on-rs-8000.html
 

Politically motivated strikes fuel capital flight

At a time when the country is trying to attract investment to propel economic growth, frequent disturbances in operating industries will, however, help fuel capital flight from the country, according to private sector leaders.

"Politically motivated strikes will force industries to close down and fuel capital flight," said president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Suraj Vaidya, here, today.

The private sector has always been used as a bait by political parties to bargain with the government, he said, urging the agitating trade unions to come to the table for talks, if they have any problem with employers. "Any solution should be found through legal and democratic means and not by resorting to unlawful means like vandalism and threats."

The frequent attacks will discourage the private sector, forcing them to close down industries that are generating employment for thousands, added Vaidya.

The strikes by politically motivated trade unions have also been curtailing the right of economic freedom of other workers, who are working to earn a living for their family.

Economic freedom — that is also a basic human right — is a personal choice, voluntary exchange, freedom to compete in markets, and protection of person and property. But lack of law and order in the country and over politicisation of trade unions have not only curtailed the right to economic freedom but also defamed trade unions that were instituted for collective bargaining power of labourers.

The private sector condemns forceful strikes and donation terror that have been disturbing industrial relations, though we respect the right to protest and collective bargaining through lawful means, Vaidya said. "The trade unions should be made to pay compensation for the damages they cause if they resort to vandalism."

Director of Lomus Herbal Research Centre Prajjwal Jung Pandey, on the occasion, briefed about the attacks on his research centre yesterday by the CPN-Maoist affiliated All Nepal Revolutionary Federation of Trade Union, that had called for a two-day strike, curtailing the right of protection against unemployment of other workers.

However, physical attacks, intimidation, threats and forceful donation drives have become a common feature recently also due to the government's failure to enforce law and order.

"The current proposed minimum wage hike is 50 per cent more than the average inflation of the last two years," the private sector players said, adding that the Minimum Wage Fixation Committee — that has members representing employers, employees and government — had recommended the minimum wage after a series of consultations with trade unions. "Any trade union that does not agree with the recommendation has a right to protest but they have no right to resort to vandalism."

The umbrella organisation of the private sector has asked the government to take strong action against the attackers and treat them as criminals for breaking the law of the land by attacking industries and destroying property.

 

Series of incidents

* Attack on president of Nepal Bankers' Association Rajan Singh Bhandari on January 7

* Attack on managing director of Hotel Radisson BK Shrestha on March 15

* Attack on telecom service provider Ncell on March 19

* Attack on vice president of FNCCI Pashupati Murarka on April 23

* Attack on Lomus Herbal Research Centre on June 6

* Attack on Chaudhary Group on June 6

* Forced donation terror for students election that has been postponed

Employers want Financial Act to include automatic hike, based on CPI, every two years

Employers have suggested the government to include minimum salary and wage hike on the basis of inflation every two years automatically, in the Financial Act that can guarantee the rights of the employees too.

If the government publishes the automatic revision provision of minimum salary and wage every two years from the beginning of the new fiscal year, there will be little room for political parties and trade unions affiliated to them for political bickering and disturbing the business environment, they suggested, adding that the employers can also have predictability in their business and investment plan.

They — like what employees have been asking — are ready to increase the salary on the basis of Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the central bank but still some trade unions are not happy.
The scientific model of the automatic revision could be discussed and brought in the Financial Act along with the budget, for a peaceful industrial environment, according to them.

"We have no objection to a scientific method for salary and wage hike based on inflation published by the central bank," according to a member of the Minimum Wages Fixation Committee that has been holding marathon rounds of talks to finalise the minimum salary and wage.

Earlier, the three key trade unions associated with Joint Trade Unions Coordination Centre — Nepal Trade Union Congress-Independent, All Nepal Trade Union Federation, and General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions — had asked for an inflation-based salary hike, besides the minimum wage criteria for workers.

Employers have agreed to increase the minimum salary and wage by Rs 1,200 making it Rs 8,400 on the basis of around 10 per cent inflation — according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) — every year in the last two years.

The minimum monthly salary of Rs 6,200 and daily wage of Rs 231 was fixed on March 24, 2011, by the tripartite Minimum Wages Fixation Committee.

However, some trade unions have been asking for Rs 12,500 — double the current salary of Rs 6,200 — and others have been asking for Rs 15,000 minimum salary, claiming that it is insufficient to survive in towns and its suburbs with the present salary and wage structure.

They have asked the government to fix a minimum salary that will be sufficient for a family to live in a town, apart from social security schemes including accidents, health care and maternity, and pension.