Biratnagar Jute Mills workers demand due wages

By Shashidhar Parajuli,Biratnagar, May 5: Employees of the Biratnagar Jute Mills Limited have demanded payment of their wages in accordance with a ruling by the Labour Office. 

After the industry failed to pay salaries to its workers for a long period, the employees had filed a case at the Labour Court. 

The workers said that despite the court ruling in favour of the workers, they have still not received the wages due to them. 

On Monday, employees of the mill submitted a memorandum to the Morang District Administration Office.

Through the memorandum addressed to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the workers have called for the immediate settlement of long-outstanding dues.

A total of 46 workers and staff members at various levels employed at the mill have yet to receive wages for the period from May 14, 2016 to mid-December 2020. 

The employees have demanded payment of a total due amount of Rs. 30,213,923.22 for that period. 

According to the mill’s Administrative Officer, Taranath Timilsina, nearly Rs. 30 million in wages owed to these 46 employees has not been paid by the government and management.

Earlier, the Labour Office in Morang had ruled in favour of the workers on January 3, 2020. 

As the decision was not implemented, the employees have been approaching various authorities. According to the memorandum submitted on May 3, 2024, the general assembly of the Jute Mills held on April 25, 2025, had also endorsed the payment.

“We have not received the return of our labour for a long time,” the memorandum states. “Despite the Labour Office’s ruling and the decision of the general assembly, the administration has been delaying payment.”

The workers also stated that they have repeatedly submitted applications to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Industry, attaching 17 different supporting documents.

The memorandum was submitted by Public Relations In-charge Yog Bahadur Subba, Accounts Officer Shyam Kumar Lama, Administrative Officer Taranath Timilsina and others.

They warned that if the payment is not made immediately as per the rulings of the Labour Court and the Labour Office, they will launch further legal action and street protests. 

Copies of the memorandum have also been sent to the Labour Office, Morang, and the Federation of Nepali Journalists.