Rise for Business Rights
The dark cloud that engulfed the Nepali business sector has started showing an ever widening silver lining.
Signs of bandh-fatigue are clearly evident. The Parliament is about to approve a law that bans all political parties from organizing bandhs or general strikes. Trade unions have passed resolutions to defy any bandh, no matter who calls for it. The agreement reached between the hotels and the hotel workers early this year is another positive development as it virtually guarantees a 'no strike' situation in hotels.
 More importantly, the business community has started to be more vociferous about their business rights. Gone are the days when they would quietly pay extortionists. The strength demonstrated by the business community in March opposing the mistreatment of two businessmen by Maoist cadres is proof that the Nepali business community has finally become bold enough to say NO. Of course, the hasty manner in which the business associations went to the street may not be palatable to many, including us. And there are serious allegations made by trade unionists against the businessmen thrashed by the Maoists in March. Still, no one would disagree that the businessmen have every right to demand state protection from illegal activities and the treatment these businessmen were subjected to was blatantly illegal. Therefore, if the businessmen try to rectify a number of their own shortcomings (and they are aware of it), they will definitely win support from the general people in the future whenever they rise against any sort of illegal activity.
However, the business community should always be alert that their activities are not provide any pretext to the regressive forces who are looking for opportunities to turn the situation in their own favour. They should remember that similar illegal actions targeted against business were more rampant during the period before Jana Andolan-2 and the business community had no alternative except to be silent sufferers. Now they are free to even threaten not to pay tax to the government. And of course, every taxpayer should have the right to refuse to pay tax if the government fails to protect his basic rights, for example, the right to carry out legal businesses and enjoy the wealth earned through such ventures.
Meanwhile, the business community should wage a campaign to ensure that they are able to enjoy the same rights as others enjoy elsewhere. For example, in Bangladesh , export, cargo has a similar right of way on the streets as provided to the ambulance and fire brigade. Businesses in China are allowed to make the employees work overtime if the need arises. Nepali businessmen lack both of these rights. More pathetic is the lack of the right to leave a business that is found to be unprofitable or uncomfortable. It is now high time for the Nepali business community to start demanding guarantee of such rights.
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