Air India loses labour battle in Nepal

Kathmandu: India's flag carrier Air India has lost a protracted labour battle in Nepal with the country's apex court ruling that the airline would have to abide by Nepal's labour laws while operating in Nepal.
The verdict delivered on Tuesday by Supreme Court judges Khilaraj Regmi and Bharatraj Upreti comes as a blow for India's oldest airline that, plagued by losses, is trying to cut down on costs.
The court order is a victory for 39 casual and contractual workers of the airline, earlier known as Indian Airlines, who are now entitled to get permanent jobs along with the perks they carry.
Nearly five years ago, the group of casual workers went to Nepal's Labour Office, saying they were entitled to be hired as permanent employees as they had worked for 240 days and/or continuously for one year.
As per Nepal's labour law, a temporary worker has to be absorbed as a permanent employee if he has worked for 240 days or continuously for one year.
Air India rejected the demand, saying it was not an organisation registered in Nepal but an Indian government institution. As it began flights to Nepal after an agreement between the governments of India and Nepal, Air India said it was not bound by Nepal's labour law.
30/06/10 IANS/Economic Times

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Categories: Foreign Jul 2010, NACIL Jul 2010