Pemba Lama Sherpa, director of Biruwa Construction Private Limited has given up trying to bring the workers back to restart the work on the Dharan-Chatara-Panchatar section of the Mid-Hill Highway as he failed to arrange transport for them due to lockdown.

The government in its bid to contain the spread of Covid-19 has enforced nationwide lockdown since March 24 suspending land and air transport, and shutting shops and industries, except for those related to essential goods.

“Many workers are willing to return to work, but it is difficult to arrange transport for all of them as they live in different locations and the local administration is not cooperating,” Lama, whose company employs workers from Sindhuli, Ramechhap Dang, Bardiya and Kailali told the Post.

“So, I have given up trying to bring them back to work immediately.”

The High-Level Committee for the Prevention and the Control of Covid-19 on April 2 decided to allow work on development projects continue despite the lockdown. It had also decided to allow factories related to essential food items, sugar and tea, animal feed and bricks by adhering to safety protocols.

The committee had also decided that offices under the Ministry of Home Affairs would make arrangements for the supply of raw materials for the construction industry.

In line with the decision of the committee, the Department of Roads on Sunday issued a circular in the name of various offices under its ambit to continue works on road and bridge projects.

According to the department, its major focus has been on getting contractors to continue work, particularly on bridge projects where immediate attention is needed to prevent damages to the bridge.

But, department officials said that bringing the workers to their workplaces remains challenging. “After the lockdown, many workers returned to their homes and they don’t want to come back to work,” said Shiva Nepal, project chief of North South Corridor Roads. “Contractors are failing to lure them back to work.”

For example, workers specialising in bitumen usually come from districts such as Sunsari, Saptari and Morang, and those related to machinery are from districts such as Rolpa and Bardiya, he said.

The Federation of Contractors’ Association of Nepal said that only around 200,000 of the 2 million workers in the construction sector are at work.

Contractors and officials said that having workers on site alone also does not guarantee that they will get to work. Contractors are also facing shortages of fuel and construction materials due to the lockdown. Locals in some locations have obstructed the work fearing the spread of coronavirus.

Not only are contractors and factories facing difficulties getting workers to return to work, but also keeping them on site.

The high-level coordination committee for the prevention and control of Covid-19 on April 2 had decided to allow industries other than those producing essential goods to restart work as long as they ensure that workers remain within the premises and follow safety guidelines.

But, contractors and industrialists say that many sites don’t have accommodation facilities for the workers.

Hari Bhakta Sharma, executive director at Deurali Janata Pharmaceutical Company, said that most of the industries in Kathmandu Valley don’t have accommodation facilities for the workers.

“It is difficult to provide residential facilities as rent is very expensive in the Kathmandu Valley,” said Sharma, whose factory is located in Dhapasi, Kathmandu.

Industrialists said as many industries don’t have accommodation facilities for workers, they have sought government's help. Satish Kumar More, president of Confederation of Nepalese Industries, a grouping of medium and large scale industries, said provided the concerned ward of the local governments provide accommodation facilities for the workers, many factories could resume operations.

“Factories can make provisions for food for workers, but the local administration should help provide transport facilities for workers to go to the work,” he told the Post.