General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions
Encyclopedia
The General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) is a confederation of 17 national trade union
federations. It is politically tied to the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)
. GEFONT declares its goal to be "Socialism for the dignified working class and prosperous life".
Trade Unions have existed in Nepal since the All Nepal Trade Union Congress
was formed in 1947, but only really came into power after the collapse of the Rana dynasty
in 1951 and the movement towards democracy. GEFONT itself was established in 1989 by the Nepal Independent Workers Union
, the Independent Transport Workers Association of Nepal
, the Nepal Independent Hotel Workers Union
and the Trekking Workers Association of Nepal
. At the time of its foundation it functioned as the trade union wing of the then underground Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist)
.
Since then it has grown in size as well as playing a large role in the 1990 Jana Andolan. When CPN(ML) merged with the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist)
to form CPN(UML), the trade union of CPN(M), Nepal Trade Union Centre, merged into GEFONT.
It currently operates a Central Women Workers' Department (CWWD) which is dedicated to the task of improving women's rights in the workplace in Nepal.
More recently it supported the 2006 Loktantra Andolan
.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
federations. It is politically tied to the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)
Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)
The Communist Party of Nepal , also known as CPN-UML, CPN, is one of the largest communist parties in Nepal. It was created on January 6, 1991 through the unification of the Communist Party of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal...
. GEFONT declares its goal to be "Socialism for the dignified working class and prosperous life".
Trade Unions have existed in Nepal since the All Nepal Trade Union Congress
All Nepal Trade Union Congress
The All Nepal Trade Union Congress was formed in 1946 and was the first trade union to ever exist in Nepal. The union was formed by a mixture of communists and socialists, the latter group leaving in 1950 to form the Nepal Workers Union , however they received little support...
was formed in 1947, but only really came into power after the collapse of the Rana dynasty
Rana dynasty
The Rana dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1953, reducing the Shah monarch to a figurehead and making Prime Minister and other government positions hereditary...
in 1951 and the movement towards democracy. GEFONT itself was established in 1989 by the Nepal Independent Workers Union
Nepal Independent Workers Union
The Nepal Independent Workers Union was a Nepalese trade union formed in 1979 as the labour wing of Communist Party of Nepal . It was created following a General Strike in Balaju Industrial District, Kathmandu existed as a separate entity until 1989 when it helped form the General Federation of...
, the Independent Transport Workers Association of Nepal
Independent Transport Workers Association of Nepal
The Independent Transport Workers Association of Nepal was a Nepalese trade union formed in 1979. The union existed as a separate entity until 1989 when it helped form the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions....
, the Nepal Independent Hotel Workers Union
Nepal Independent Hotel Workers Union
The Nepal Independent Hotel Workers Union was a Nepalese trade union formed in 1981. The union existed as a separate entity until 1989 when it helped form the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions....
and the Trekking Workers Association of Nepal
Trekking Workers Association of Nepal
The Union of Trekking Travels Rafting Workers Nepal is a Nepali trade union founded in 1994. The organisation was originally constituted as the Trekking Workers Association of Nepal in 1984, a structure adopted as trade unions were illegal during the rule of the absolute monarchy...
. At the time of its foundation it functioned as the trade union wing of the then underground Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist)
Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist)
Communist Party of Nepal , was an underground political party in Nepal. It was founded 1978 by the All Nepal Communist Revolutionary Coordination Committee . The founding congress was held December 26, 1978-January 1, 1979. The first general secretary of CPN was C.P...
.
Since then it has grown in size as well as playing a large role in the 1990 Jana Andolan. When CPN(ML) merged with the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist)
Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist)
Communist Party of Nepal , formed through the unification of Communist Party of Nepal , led by Manmohan Adhikari, and Communist Party of Nepal , led by Sahana Pradhan, in 1987...
to form CPN(UML), the trade union of CPN(M), Nepal Trade Union Centre, merged into GEFONT.
It currently operates a Central Women Workers' Department (CWWD) which is dedicated to the task of improving women's rights in the workplace in Nepal.
More recently it supported the 2006 Loktantra Andolan
2006 democracy movement in Nepal
The 2006 Democracy Movement is a name given to the political agitations against the direct and undemocratic rule of King Gyanendra of Nepal. The movement is also sometimes referred to as Jana Andolan-II , implying it being a continuation of the 1990 Jana Andolan.-Reinstitution of Parliament:In a...
.
National Executive Committee
The current 53-member National Executive Committee was elected by the 5th National Congress held on 4–7 April 2009, with the following senior leadership:- President: Bishnu Rimal
- Senior Vice-President: Binod Shrestha
- Vice-Presidents: Chudamani Jungali, Hari Datta Joshi, Uddhav KC
- Secretary General: Umesh Upadhyaya