April 27, Kathmandu – Various trade unions active in the civil service sector have appealed not to reduce trade union rights in the Federal Civil Service Bill. They demand full trade union rights for all professionals to organize and become members of their chosen unions as ensured by Nepal’s Constitution and conventions ratified by Nepal under the International Labour Organization (ILO).
In a joint statement, they also called for strengthening the legal protection of rights, participation, and collective bargaining of employees working in public services. The Nepal Civil Service Employees’ Organization, Nepal Civil Service Employees Union, Nepal National Civil Service Employees Organization, Unified Government Employees Organization, Nepal Madhesi Civil Service Employees Forum, and Independent National Servants’ Employees Organization issued the joint statement highlighting these demands.
The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration had publicly released a draft bill on April 24 (Baisakh 11, 2081 BS), concerning the formation, operation, and service conditions of the federal civil service, inviting necessary suggestions as per the Legislative Act, 2081. The unions welcomed this step as a positive development.
However, the draft bill has drawn serious attention from national-level trade unions in the civil service sector for efforts to curtail the existing trade union rights that allow civil servants to organize for their professional interests. The statement emphasized that Nepal’s Constitution, 2015 clearly guarantees under Article 26(2)(c) the freedom of every citizen to form associations and organizations, and under Article 34 the right of every worker to fair labor practices, including the right to form trade unions, participate in them, and engage in collective bargaining.
Moreover, the unions reminded the government that Nepal, as a ratifying member of key ILO conventions, recognizes trade union rights as fundamental labor rights even in public services. These conventions ensure that workers and employees can freely organize under their chosen unions and are entitled to collective bargaining rights.
