GENEVA (ILO news) – The worker representative of Nepal on the Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO), Laxman Basnet, discussed the recent developments in Nepal with ILO Director-General Juan Somavia today.
In a telephone call from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, Mr. Basnet, who is President of the National Trade Union Congress of Nepal, thanked the ILO for its efforts on behalf of detained leaders and members of trade unions, who are now either free or being released.
The ILO has intervened with the Government several times during the recent crisis, including letters sent directly from the ILO Director-General to King Gyanendra of Nepal.
Scores of unionists from the main trade union federations as well as from unions representing workers in the agricultural, chemical, education, iron works, hotel, tourism and informal sectors, street vendors, factory workers and financial institute employees had recently been detained.
“We would like to thank you and your organization for continued support and solidarity”, Mr. Basnet told the Director-General