Kathmandu. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and newly appointed member of the Board of Directors of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), Uttar Kumar Khatri, has been protesting against the agitating employees.

Khatri, who sat at the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) for about 2 hours on Sunday, has become even more angry with the employees. The employees have continued their agitation for the 21st day today.

The employees of the Board have been on strike for the past 21 days, saying that the service and perks they were enjoying would be taken away due to a letter sent by the Ministry of Finance to Sebon on September 18. A meeting of the Board of Directors held on Sunday was expected to address the demands of the employees. However, instead of fulfilling their demands, the agitating employees have decided to go on a more stringent strike.

The employees had hoped that the issue would be resolved in a meeting held on Sunday. However, the agitating employees’ unions had demanded that the Ministry of Finance withdraw the letter.

Khatri, who participated in the meeting held at the Securities Board of Nepal for about 2 hours, insisted that the letter sent by the ministry should be implemented at any cost. “We welcomed him to the board meeting. After this, the discussion started about the agitation of the employees. Shortly after the meeting started, he put forth his views and insisted that the letter of the ministry should be implemented at any cost,” an official of the employees’ union quoted the board members as saying, “The meeting could not reach a decision after Khatri took a stand.” He sat in the meeting for about 2 hours. During the meeting, he insisted that the letter of the ministry should be implemented at any cost. Khatri was adamant that the ministry’s letter should be implemented at any cost and the employees should immediately stop the protest.

If the letter sent by the ministry is implemented, it will be the responsibility of all, not just the employees’ union. The meeting was also attended by the Board of Directors and Executive Directors. The employees’ union was not involved.

During the meeting, representatives of all the 2 agitating unions were called even though no consensus could be reached. Sources claim that Khatri stopped this too. Khatri, who was sitting on the board from 5:30 to around 7:30 pm, was leaving Sebon when the employees asked him, “Sir, what happened in the meeting, he replied that the letter of the ministry will be implemented to the employees who are agitating in the Sebon premises, if he is not satisfied, he will go to court.” Union officials say that due to this statement, they will not accept any decision taken by the board on Sunday and will intensify the agitation.

In Sunday’s meeting, it was decided to form a committee comprising 2 board members and some high-ranking employees to study the letter of finance. No time was set for that committee. The employees have continued the agitation saying that the committee was formed without specifying the time, forcing the employees to stop the agitation and trying to cut the time only in the name of study. The board is adamant that it will not implement the decision.

The employees have continued their agitation demanding that the revenue secretary-level decision of September 14 will reduce the perks and perks of the employees and also return the facilities enjoyed by the previous employees.

On September 18, the Ministry had informed about three issues related to the Employees Welfare Fund and Employees Security Fund operated by the Board as per the decision of September 16 (Revenue Secretary level).

Clause 22 and 116 of the Securities Related Act, 2063, Section 15 of the Legislation Act, 2081, Rule 16 of the Government of Nepal (Division of Work) Regulations, 2074 and Rule 167 of the Securities Board Employees Service and Conditions Regulations, 2068 have been issued in contravention of the Securities Board Employees Welfare Fund Working Procedure, 2071 and the Securities Board of Nepal Employees Security Fund (Operation and Management) Procedure, 2075.

It is stated that the government will immediately initiate the process to recover the amount paid from the fund in the past as government dues on the basis of the procedures made against the existing law and the consent of the Ministry of Finance will be compulsorily taken before taking any decision on any financial liability.