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... Strengthening Pro-worker Trade Unionism ... [] General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions [] GEFONT [] Mailing Address: [] P.O. Box No. 10652 [] Putali Sadak, [] Kathmandu, Nepal [] Tel: +977-1-248072 [] Fax: +977-1-248073 [] General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions - GEFONT [] Introduction: [] General federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) is a Confederation of 16 National federations dedicated for the rights, welfare and dignity of to workers us a whole. It works as a general platform of labourers which is progressive in character. [] History Behind GEFONT: [] The History of Nepalese Trade unionism goes back to 1947. The forma tion [!] of the All Nepal Trade Union Congress (ANTUC), reorganised in 1950, was the first trade union federation in Nepal. This federation could not exist after 1960, when the autocratic Panchayat system was forcefully imposed and unions along with the political parties were declared banned. After 19 years of continuos repression, in 1979, the historical mass movement gave rise to more than half a dozen trade unions. But, because of lack of enough coordination and understanding among trade unions of different sectors, the formation of a notional center couldn't be mode possible. In order to overcome such problems, on initiative was undertaken on 20th July, 1989, which ultimately gave birth to the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT). The GEFONT has formally been registered as the FIRST national Trade Union Confederation in the country [] Objectives: [] Co-ordinate and unite the individual unions under the umbrella of GEFONT and launch the movement effectively for the professional and political rights and build up solidarity in action, [] Expose and publicise the facts of social humiliation and suppression that workers of Nepal are facing in their everyday life, [] Undertake action oriented research and surveys on different issues related to the workers, [] Launch workers' struggle against socio-political exploitation, [] Advise and pressurise the Government and develop alternative programmes in connection with the formulation of labour policy [] Struggle for the Workers' right of participation in every socio-politikal activities, and for the building up of just society with full freedom, [] Struggle for the protection, promotion and progress of sovereignty, independent economy and culture of the notion and stand for to workers' internationalism, [] Extend relations with the workers of to world and support their movements, educate workers' by trade union education to attain the industrial democracy and to strengthen their capacity in CBA-tactics, [] Struggle and contribute the movement against all forms of international reactionary networks, [] Basic Principles: [] GEFONT believes, [] that people and nation are the supreme source of power. [] that the sovereignty lies on people. [] that the prosperity of a nation is fully possible only when enemies of people, e.g. feudalism, imperialism, hegemonism, bureaucratic and compradore capitalism are abolished. [] that only the people of Nepal have the right and responsibility to eliminate unelected institutions and to establish peoples' democracy in Nepal. [] that the revolutionary solidarity among he people of oil suppressed stratas and exploited profession is the key force of workers' movement. [] that exercise of oil possible means of peaceful movement such as dialogues, pressures and strikes can solve the workers' problems and only the militant solidarity can safeguard the dignity, unity and rights of the worker us a whole. [] Immediate demands of GEFONT: [] 1 Declare he National Labour Policies based on our "labour policy" passed by second national congress of GEFONT. Include the work plan accordingly in the forthcoming Ninth Plan. [] 2 Include all the working employees and agricultural workers within the circumference of trade unions. [] 3 Revise labour laws in accordance with National labour Policy [] 4 Fulfill the genuine demands of he member federations of GEFONT [] GEFONT National Congresses: Date and the Themes [] GEFONT had convened its first National Congress on 28-31 March 1992 under the theme " Social Justice and Economic Parity, Industrial Growth and Workers' Solidarity!" [] Recently, it has convened the second National Congress on 16-19 March 1996 under to Theme "Towards labour Welfare and Industrial Revolution, let us Translate Our Policy into Action!" [] GEFONT Activities summed up: 1993-96 [] 1. From July 1993, GEFONT had started the program of trade union education and literacy named as TRUE-Campaign which has been highly successful. Later it has been revised and modified much more and he concept of 'Mobile lode Union School is developed. Now, Workers' education and training in a mass-scale has become possible in an effective manner. [] 2. "Emergency Fund Schemes" was prepared for the assistance and welfare of workers who are ousted from the job, who are on the strike, who are in injuries or in any other genuine problems. And thus an "Emergency Fund" is established from 10 December 1994, the Human Right Day. [] 3. The legal service in Nepal is too much expensive and beyond the access of laborers [!]. As a result, workers are financially helpless to fight their cases in the courts. Although it is just a drop in the ocean, the GEFONT has appointed a legal officer in central office and is providing free services to the needy ones. [] 4. Public-Health conditions in Nepal are really you worse and illiteracy and ignorance have created much more complexities. Workers' community is unaware of the health hazards in their occupation. So GEFONT has launched awareness campaign through its OHS Department and the campaign was highly effective during the period. [] 5. GEFONT has successfully organized an International Trade Union Conference (ITUC) on "Economic Liberalization and Pro-Worker Trade unionism" from 10-14 December 1994 in Kathmandu. Altogether 63 participants from 38 TUs and labor organisations of 15 countries had participated and the conference hod issued Kathmandu Declaration and the action plans. In order to coordinate activities among the network members, the conference entrusted the responsibility of Coordinator for ITUN secretariat to GEFONT. [] 6. Campaign on Child labor [!] elimination and on Women workers have been launched by GROW. During this period, GROW has undertaken three child labor [!] programs in cooperation with ILO/IPEC - two in tea plantation sector and one in sweepers' community. Similarly Central Women Workers Deportment has launched specific programs for awareness raising and protection of women workers. [] GEFONT by 2000 : The future plan of Action [] On the threshold of third congress, we will have entered 21st century. To prepare GEFONT to face the challenges of 21st century, the programme GEFONT by 2000 has to be launched: [] 1. True campaign on "Labor [!] policy" through mobile trade Union School [] Trade Union Education and training pogroms on Basic and special courses will be in continuation with special emphasis on our concept, analyses and stands on labor [!] policy issue. [] 2. Campaign for unionisation of agricultural workers [] The vast majority of the total workforce in our country is still unorganized and is in informal sectors, of which agricultural workers are the major constituents. We have developed a concept of "Three Union - One Federation" for agro-workers - one for bonded Kamaiyas, another for agro-form workers and the third for unorganized tillers, cattle-herders and all those dependent on agricultural wages. [] 3. Campaign for the liberation of Kamaiyas [] Kamaiyas represent the bonded agri-labour which is the most exploited section of the Nepalese workers. There is no fixed working hour nor the minimum wages for Kamaiyas. Women and children of the Kamaiya families are severely exploited and they get nothing in wages. So this campaign aims of liberating them from bonded-conditions and making them capable to enter the labor [!] market. [] 4. Campaign for "One Class - One organization, One enterprise - One Union" [] Multiplicity of unions in enterprise level has weakened the bargaining strength of workers and 'Divide and Rule' policy of the employers has been successful. Hence, this is the pro-worker campaign for he strong unity of workers. [] 5. Campaign for line industry federations [] Reorganization of some large federations is being necessary because of the diversities in the nature of industries and occupations. There are diversities in manufacturing, in hotels, in transport, in press etc. and owing to the vast differences, we feel that inefficiencies may occur even in the federations technically in near future. [] So unionization of workers in accordance with the nature of industries and occupation may be more effective. Therefore in this regard, survey, analysis, planning and action for better unionization is the essence of his campaign. [] 6. Campaign for Women Workers [] There are several issues related to the women workers. Gender discrimination and social values and customs have created so many complexities that working women are suffering much more in comparison to the male workers. This campaign aims at highlighting the issues of women workers and digging out practical solutions for the problems. [] 7. Campaign for child labor [!] elimination [] In our socio-economic realities, abrupt elimination of Child lobor [!] is not possible and hence the strategy of gradual progressive elimination is to be adopted. In this respect, three strategies- Preventive, functional and rehabilitative - have been determined and action programs have also been launched accordingly and will be countinued [!] with greater emphasis. [] 8. Campaign for Occupational Safety and Health [] Since, the working masses are illiterate and ignorant, they aren't aware of the health hazards and Occupational diseases. The urgent need is to make them aware which can't be done without proper OHS education and training. In this regard, GEFONT has prepared a plan of action to implement through its special committee of OHS for the coming years. [] 9. Campaign "GEFONT cadre - Top 100" and GEFONT Member - one Million" [] Within the coming four years it is planned to develop 100 all ounder [!] trade unionist and together with it, the union membership is planned to be increased up to 1 million. For the purpose, strong unionization and intensive workers' education will be emphasized. [] 10. Campaign for GEFONT Cooperatives [] Workers Cooperatives will be given due emphasis and financial as well as technical assistance will be provided to the enterprise level unions and national federations to develop such cooperatives wherever possible. [] 11. Campaign for "Labor [!] Building Construction" [] GEFONT aims to have its own building by 2000 and has planned to name it 'Labor [!] Building [!]. [] gefont
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