Even as Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal sought more foreign investment and assured full security to industries, Maoists today forced the closure of Indian ayurvedic giant Dabur’s subsidiary in southern Nepal.
After stopping Dabur-sponsored annual beauty pageant a couple of weeks back, Maoists affiliated All Nepal Trade Union Federation Revolutionary (ANTUFR) yesterday forced shut, indefinitely, Dabur Nepal’s main factory in Bara district, 250 km south of Kathmandu, sources said.
The union is demanding 10 per cent bonus for the workers along with other benefits. The closure has jeopardised employment of over 700 people in the factory, situated at Rampur near the Indo-Nepal border.
The management’s approach to labour minister and Maoist leader Lekhraj Bhatta and ANTUFRs president and lawmaker Shalikram Jamarkattel failed to yield any result. They, however, assured to look into the matter. “It is futile to talk about industrial security until the workers’ rights and welfare are guaranteed,” said senior Maoist leader KL Devkota.