UNITRAV submits memo to TAAN; puts forward 15-point demand

KATHMANDU: The Union of Trekking Travels Rafting Workers Nepal (UNITRAV) has submitted a memorandum to the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN). The memorandum specifies the organisation's 15-point demand including tourism workers' salary increase, implementation of social security, immediate labour audit, workers' registration in local bodies. The UNITRAV has demanded that the wages and facilities of workers should be increased based on the inflation rate and the increase in food prices as per the report issued by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) citing that the wages and service facilities of the workers have not been increased for a long time. Further, the UNITRAV has demanded that the accident and health insurance amount of mountain climbing workers and others working on foot trails should be increased by cent per cent as the risk is increasing day by day in the work area due to climate change. UNITRAV President Suman Prasad Parajuli said they demanded that the workers should be registered with the local bodies and provided identity cards, and make arrangements in such a way that while recruiting new workers, only those who have been registered with local bodies should be employed. After the implementation of the Labour Act, 2074, and Social Security Act, 2074, all workers must be listed in the Social Security Fund (SSF) and the employers should make regular contributions to the fund. Likewise, the union of tourism workers has urged the umbrella association of trekking agencies to make the process easier for the workers to obtain licences issued and renewed by the Department of Tourism. The organisation alleged that the Gandaki Province government had been arbitrarily collecting tax while renewing the licenses of the workers, and suggested the tax should be either cancelled or paid by the employer/institution. Other demands include making the labour audit mandatory in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Act and rules, and 30% increase in various services provided to mountaineering workers. The organisation has also asked to manage the waste in the mountains and trekking trails, and conduct public awareness programmes related to climate change. The organisation is also preparing to submit a memorandum to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security regarding the demands of tourism workers. READ ALSO:

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