Kathmandu, October 28
Gautam Buddha Community Heart Hospital, a non-profit institution operating in Butwal, Rupandehi, has paid festival allowances to its employees following a directive from the Labour and Employment Office.
According to the secretariat of Youth, Labour and Employment Minister Ramjee Yadav, workers at the hospital had complained that they had not received their festival allowances.
Following the complaints, the Labour and Employment Office in Butwal sent a letter to the hospital on Ashoj 30, directing it to pay the allowances. The ministry said 240 employees received the payments following the directive.
The letter reminded the hospital of Section 37 of the Labour Act, 2017, which stipulates that every worker is entitled to a festival allowance equivalent to one month’s basic remuneration.
It also stated that workers who have not completed one year of service must receive the allowance in proportion to the period they have worked.
After paying the Dashain festival allowance to its employees this year, the hospital submitted details of the payments to the Labour and Employment Office in Butwal.
In its response to the office’s letter, the hospital stated on Kartik 9 that it had already paid 240 employees an amount equivalent to one month’s basic remuneration as festival allowance, effective from Ashoj 29.
The hospital also submitted evidence showing that it had paid a total of Rs 4.254 million, including employee benefits, to the 240 workers.
It also provided the Labour Office with certified records of the bank transactions as proof of payment.
According to the hospital administration, the non-profit health institution remains committed to protecting the rights and benefits of all its employees and said it had completed the payment process on time.
