Nepal - Himal Power Ltd staunchly rejects social dialogue (2012)

On 15 December, in Dolakha district, Himal Power Ltd (HPL) dismissed 89 employees belonging to the Nepal Independent Chemical and Iron Workers’ Union (NICIWU), affiliated to the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT). GEFONT has reported that the dismissals are directly linked to the management’s refusal to talk to the union within the framework of collective bargaining negotiations. The company has remained staunch in its rejection of talks for many months, in spite of interventions by the Labour Ministry and a labour court. HPL is a joint venture comprising Norwegian and Nepalese investors.