Associations of contractors from 77 districts to display banner representing their demands in respective offices from Wednesday
KATHMANDU, Aug 15: The Federation of Contractors’ Association of Nepal (FCAN) has formed a five-member negotiation team under the leadership of its president Rabi Singh to engage in discussions with the government. After receiving an official letter from the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, the FCAN held a meeting on Tuesday and decided to form the negotiation team.
The FCAN said that the government’s call for discussion is a positive step but they will continue symbolic demonstrations until their demands are met. As a part of their protest, the associations of contractors from 77 districts will put up a banner including 9-point demands in their respective offices starting from Wednesday.
The third phase of the FCAN’s protest concluded on Tuesday. On the last day of the third phase of the protest, the federation’s office bearers including Rabi Singh and Vice President of FCAN Ang Dorjee Lama staged a sit-in at the Department of Roads and the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation. They symbolically padlocked both the offices and wore safety jackets, helmets, and black bands on their hands to conduct a peaceful protest.
In the ongoing movement of the FCAN, the construction entrepreneurs affiliated with major political parties, such as Loktantrik Nirman Bewasai Sangh, Nepal Nirman Udhyog Parisad, Nepal Rastra Nirman Bewasai Sangathan and Rastriya Prajatantra Nirman Bewasai Sangathan have expressed full solidarity.
As part of the protest program, since July 30, the construction entrepreneurs have staged a peaceful sit-in in front of the Public Procurement Monitoring Office, the Prime Minister's Residence in Baluwatar, the Federal Parliament building, Maitighar Mandala and Singha Durbar.
The FCAN is advocating for time extension of contract, clearance of pending payments and price adjustments in line with the prevailing inflation rate, and for ensuring fair compensation for their work in the changing economic conditions and fulfillment of 9-point demand.
The construction entrepreneurs are urging prompt attention to the legitimate demands of the federation through negotiations.
On Monday, the government formed a six-member task force under the coordination of Public Procurement Monitoring Office Secretary Dr Damodar Regmi. The task force includes joint secretaries from line ministries as its members, which is mandated to conduct necessary consultations and coordination and submit its report within 15 days.