Global Union Federations (GUFs), representing workers across various sector, have issued a joint statement expressing grave concern over the Nepal government’s proposal to ban selected trade unions, especially those representing public services workers. The statement warns that such a move would directly violate Nepal’s Constitution, breach its obligations under ILO Convention 98, and undermine the democratic right of workers to organise and bargain collectively. 

The statement stresses that workers delivering public health, water, sanitation, energy, local government and welfare services are not outside the scope of fundamental labour rights. On the contrary, the ability of these workers to unionise has historically secured better wages, safer working conditions, stronger staffing, and improved public services. The proposed restrictions threaten to reverse these gains and could expose Nepal to serious scrutiny from the International Labour Organisation, United Nations' human rights bodies, and international trade partners. Global unions have called on the government to immediately withdraw the proposal and engage in genuine social dialogue with workers’ organisations.

"It is completely unacceptable that Nepal Government is denying workers one of their most fundamental democratic rights—the right to form and join trade unions. Public service workers in Nepal, such as community health workers and sanitation workers, have won important gains through collective organising. To ban unions now would not only violate international law and Nepal’s own Constitution, it would risk nullifying years of hard-won progress. We must not give up on the gains workers have made through unionising,” said Kate Lappin, Regional Secretary, PSI Asia Pacific.

At the home front, the Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) held a Press Conference to register workers' protest.

Below is the full statement by GUFs.