Government employees stage demonstration in front of the Finance Ministry, Singha Durbar, demanding salary hike, Wednesday, July 15 09. nepalnews.com/ANA

Government employees, who had staged demonstration in Singha Durbar yesterday demanding salary hike, picketed the Finance Ministry on Wednesday.

The agitating government employees barred vehicles from moving in and out of Singha Durbar for over three hours. Works at different ministries were affected due to the protest.

Organsing a corner meeting after a rally inside Singha Durbar, representatives of the unions said protests would be intensified if the government does not consider their demands.

Unions of civil servants affiliated with different political parties have criticised the government for not increasing the salary. Different unions have suggested Rs 5000 to 6000 increase in the salary.

Meanwhile, answering the queries of lawmakers in the parliament today, Finance Minister Surendra Pandey said the government was serious about the demand of the government employees for a salary review.  He said 'necessary steps' would be taken for a review, informing that negotiations would start on the demand today itself.

In the annual budget unveiled on Monday, the Finance Minister didn't announce any pay hike he said the dearness allowances for the government employees had been increased. nepalnews.com