Civil servants’ organisations have warned the government not to scrap trade union rights.

Following complaints that influence of party-aligned trade unions undermined service delivery, the government is preparing for a single apolitical trade union as it drafts a law to regulate the federal civil service.

Organisations affiliated to the erstwhile CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre), the Nepali Congress and the Madhes-based parties have come up with a joint note urging the government to withdraw Clause 119 of the proposed ‘Bill on Formation of Federal Civil Service, Operation and Conditions’.

The elected trade union has called its national gathering on Saturday to discuss ways to tackle the government’s move targeting trade unions. The bill also bars a single official from serving more than two terms as a trade union office bearer.

“We’ll fight for our constitutional trade union right if the government fails to scrap Clause 119 of the draft bill,” said Punya Prasad Dhakal, chairman of the official civil servants’ union. He pinned his hope on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is said to be “against axing trade unions”.

“Though we have not met the PM, we have heard that he only wants an end to the anomalies in civil service,” Dhakal, who represents the union close to the erstwhile UML, told the Post.