Workers' protest paralyses jute factories

Nine jute factories based in Morang-Sunsari industrial corridor remained closed for the third day in row on Wednesday as workers continued to stage protest demanding the minimum wage fixed by the government, reports the Himalayan Times.

Some 20,000 workers had been resorting to sit-in and disrupting to pressurize their employers to meet their demand.

The chakkajam enforced by the agitating labourers reportedly disrupted Sunsari-Sonapur section of the Koshi highway for about an hour.

The country's largest jute manufacturer Arihanta Multifibers, situated in Sonapur, was also paralysed since the industry's 4,500 workers ceaselessly engaged themselves in staging sit-in and traffic blockade.

The leaders of dissenting workers even warned that the Sunsari's Sonapur area would be shut for an indefinite period if their demands were continued to be overlooked.

The workers began to unleash protests after the government's decision of minimum daily wage of Rs 190 was not implemented in the jute industries. nepalnews.com nd Dec 31 08