Kathmandu, February 16
The government of Nepal is holding another round of talks with employees of local bodies, who have shut their work stations as part of their movement, affecting millions of service-seekers.
The two sides had held first round of talks at the Ministry of Local Development on Wednesday.
Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, secretary at the ministry, said they have done their homework in a bid to reach a deal with the agitators at today’s discussions.
Responding to the employees’ demand, the ministry has said the new law will incorporate the issues of employee management, pay and perks in the federal setup. It said only by introducing a a law can local bodies’ staff be made automatically permanent in the new scheme of things.
The employees had sought permanent status for temporary employees and employees on contract, elevation of employees to chiefs of local bodies as part of transitional arrangements and pak as well as perks on a par with civil servants of similar ranks. Wednesday’s talks ended on an inconclusive note as the ministry said it cannot address the agitators’ demands immediately.
For his part, the ministry has told agitating employees to withdraw the closure of local bodies and come to the talks table.
