ICEM Opposes Nepal’s Electric Privatisation

In Nepal, wrapped inside the monarchy’s current autocratic rule and dissolution of Parliament over a year ago, is a government ordinance coming to light that would privatise components of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). ICEM affiliates NEAEU and NEAEA, along with a third union inside the electric utility, are resisting the privatisation and have launched a series of protests and short strikes to keep NEA in the public domain.

“The government is preparing a new electricity act for the purpose of unbundling NEA through an ordinance because there is no Parliament in Nepal,” stated NEAEU Secretary General RP Rimal. “We, with the other two unions NEAEA and NEAEWC, are opposing the proposed ordinance,” he said, adding the unions began protests on 15 February.

The protests include picketing NEA central offices, and a series of one-hour vehicle strikes that have escalated to four-hour strikes. The ICEM joined the protests by writing a strong letter in opposition to the plan, which can be found at /index.php?id=7&la=EN&doc=1681.