International Labor Day being observed toady

KATHMANDU: The 124th International Labor Day or May Day is being marked across the nation on Wednesday amid various programs.

Various trade unions including General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF) are set to organize rallies and mass assemblies in capital Kathmandu on the occasion of the Labor Day today demanding guarantee of professional and political rights of laborers.

Workers associated with them are set to gather at separate mass assemblies organised by UML affiliated trade union GEFONT at Tudikhel and UCPN (Maoist) affiliated trade union ANTUF at Bhrikutimandap this afternoon.

The GEFONT and the Confederation of Nepalese Professional (CONEP) are jointly celebrating the May Day under the slogan “Change by building workers’ power”. The ANTUF and NTUC-I are also organizing rallies and mass meetings separately to mark the day.

Union leaders said despite the improved situation in the industrial sector, the government and employers have not been serious in addressing labor issues, ensuring their rights and increasing employment.

May Day is celebrated all over the world in the commemoration of the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago in 1886, when Chicago police fired on workers during a general strike for the eight hour working days, killing several demonstrators.

However political interference in the industrial sector has hampered the sector adversely as trade unions are working to fulfill petty partisan interest rather than working for the benefit of the laborers.