Both the operators are controlled by Stockholm-based Teliasonera.[break]
As part of their protest program, the members of Hello Nepal unit of All Nepal Communication Printing Publication Workers Union-Revolutionary (ANCPPW-R) on Monday picketed Mukti Tower where the operator´s corporate office is located.
According to the union members, the management had forcefully handed over retirement letters to 87 employees after they launched a protest program on May 15, demanding that the management provide them appointment letters and allow them to register trade union.
“We want the management to immediately reinstate the employees and implement Labor Act effectively,” Ramdeep Ramdeep Acharya, coordinator of ANCPPW-R, said adding that they have also asked Ajay Sumargi, one of the promoters of Hello Nepal, to clarify whether or not UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal owns stake in the company.
“It won´t be tolerable if political leaders like him (Dahal) are investing in the company that doesn´t respect labor laws,” added Acharya.
After sacking of the employees, Hello Nepal is being operated from Krishna Tower - the corporate office of Ncell. The workers also picketed Ncell´s corporate office at Krishna Tower later in the day.
Addressing the mass, union leaders have also announced protest programs against the management of Hello Nepal. In the first phase, the agitators are planning to halt all the technical works being carried out by various vendors of both the operators.
Currently, eight telecom vendors and sub-contractors, including Huawei, ZTE, Movicon and Jamil Technology, are associated with the operators.
According to a statement issued by the union, the management had sacked the employees by forcefully making them sign the retirement letter.
However, officials of Hello Nepal have claimed that the employees had left the job under Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS).
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