International Workers’ Day: Workers demand constitutional rights, representation

Kathmandu, Nepal – Various stakeholders called for the guarantee of workers’ rights in the new constitution. At an interaction programme organized here on Monday by Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) to mark the International Workers’ Day (May 1) on ‘Workers rights in new constitution’, they said the time is ripe to raise voice on behalf of workers as the workers’ issue is the national issue.

UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Pralhad Lamichhane called for the separate identity of workers, pledging to engage his efforts to promulgate workers friendly constitution by May 27.

Former co-president of Nepal Trade Union Congress-Independent Khilanath Dahal voiced his complaint that the state has been neglecting workers, demanding arrangement of employment to youths or providing unemployment allowances if employment is not guaranteed.

Civil society leader Krishna Pahadi said the political party leaders should not make utterances that the tenure of Constituent Assembly (CA) could be extended again, warning that the country would sail into civil war if people’s complete constitution is not promulgated within May 27.

‘There is no alternative for the political parties to move ahead together by bringing civil society and international power into confidence if it is to deliver peace and constitution as per people’s aspiration’, he added.

Also speaking on the occasion were advocate Dinesh Tripathi, human rights activists Kapil Shrestha, Pradeep Pokharel, Raju Sarkar, among other. RSS