The General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) ( ne, नेपाल ट्रेड यूनियन महासंघ) is a confederation of 20 national

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

federations. It is politically tied to the

Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (; abbr. CPN (UML)) is the largest political party in Nepal on the basis of memberships. As per the results of recent elections, ''CPN (UML)'' stands as the second largest 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 The All Nepal Trade Union Congress (ANTUC) 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 (Ma ...

was formed in 1946, but only really came into power after the collapse of the

Rana dynasty Rana dynasty ( ne, राणा वंश, IAST=Rāṇā vaṃśa , ) is a Chhetri dynasty that imposed totalitarianism in the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1951, reducing the Shah monarch to a figurehead and making Prime Minister and other ...

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 Independent Transport Workers Association of Nepal (ITWAN) 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]
Trade unions in ...

, the

Nepal Independent Hotel Workers Union The Nepal Independent Hotel Workers Union (NIHWU) is 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 The General Federation of Nepalese ...

, and the

Trekking Workers Association of Nepal The Union of Trekking Travels Rafting Workers Nepal (UNITRAV) is a Nepali trade union founded in 1994. The organisation was originally constituted as the ''Trekking Workers Association of Nepal (TWAN)'' in 1984, a structure adopted as trade union ...

. At the time of its foundation, it functioned as the trade union wing of the then underground Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist). The federation played an active role in the 1990

Jana Andolan The 1990 People's Movement ( ne, २०४६ जनआन्दोलन, 2046 Jana Andolan) was a multiparty movement in Nepal that brought an end to absolute monarchy and the beginning of constitutional monarchy. It also eliminated the Panch ...

. When CPN(ML) merged with the

Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist) The Communist Party of Nepal was founded in Calcutta, India, on 15 September 1949. Communist Party of Nepal may also refer to: * Communist Party of Nepal (2006) * Communist Party of Nepal (2013) * Communist Party of Nepal (2014) * Communist Part ...

to form CPN(UML), the trade union of CPN(M),

Nepal Trade Union Centre Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...

, merged into GEFONT. It currently operates a GEFONT women's committee which is dedicated to the task of improving women's rights in the workplace in Nepal. Similarly, GEFONT youth committee also established to bring youth in the leadership of it rank and file. GEFONT supported the 2006 democracy movement (Loktantra Andolan) and subsequently, four representatives were elected in the 2008 Constituent Assembly election and three elected in the 2013 elections.

References

{{Authority control Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) National trade union centers of Nepal Trade unions established in 1989 1989 establishments in Nepal

See also

References