The interim government will change the labour law in favour of workers if State Minister for Labour Ramesh Lekhak has his way. "The government will convince employers to protect workers' rights and increase their wages and also convince workers to let things run smoothly," he told us.

The minister acknowledged that the approach runs counter to the trend both internationally and in Nepal, where for example, Prime Minister Girija Koirala in September promised entrepreneurs he would form a taskforce to probe trade union activism and extortion and other pressures from Maoists. "International practice and trends do not favour workers due to a capitalist trend...we want to follow a socialist pattern of economy," said Lekhak.

Employers and employees will be consulted before amendments are made, added the minister, but they are on hold until the Maoists join the government. "They might disagree with the changes," he said.

Marty Logan