Paying Workers Below Minimum Wage is Punishable: PM Oli

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has warned that employing workers for wages below the minimum threshold under any pretext is a punishable offence by law.

Speaking at the 78th anniversary ceremony of the Nepali Trade Union Movement, organized by the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) in Kathmandu today, PM Oli expressed concern over reports that nurses were not receiving minimum wages. He emphasized that industries and businesses could not thrive unless workers were satisfied, underscoring the need to create an environment where workers could eventually become employers.

“During the struggle for systemic change, many of our comrades were killed, but our objectives were never defeated. We were imprisoned, but our goals were never locked away,” said the Prime Minister.

He called for cooperation among the government, employers, and workers to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome through dialogue, asserting that the government must remain neutral and draw fair conclusions.

Rejecting the practice of opposition for the sake of opposition, PM Oli remarked, “We are not interested in gossip and backbiting. Our priority is to bring development and transformation to the country.”

Highlighting the adverse impact of global warming and melting glaciers on human civilization, the Prime Minister urged the international community to collaborate in protecting the environment, from mountains to seas.

The event also included discussions on the theme ‘Save the Himalayas—Protecting Workers’ Rights.’ Present on the occasion were PM Oli’s Chief Advisor and former GEFONT Chairperson Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Chief of the CPN (UML) Class Organisation Mechanism Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, Chairperson of the Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre Jagat Simkhada, and other dignitaries.

Mountaineers, disaster rescuers, and related organizations were honored during the ceremony.