The government has banned all kinds of strike by essential service providers. A Cabinet meeting on Tuesday decided to publish a notice in the Nepal Gazette to enforce the order.

This move follows transport entrepreneurs’ announcement to enforce an indefinite strike against the government’s decision to end syndicates in the public transport sector. Vehicle owners’ committees and associations have threatened an indefinite strike from May 10.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sher Bahadur Tamang said the government would strictly enforce the decision.

Essential services mean those whose interruption could endanger people’s life, health or personal safety. In Nepal, essential services include telephone, public transport, printing, internal security, water supply, tourism services, petroleum products supply, health services, waste management, banking, insurance, electricity and distribution of materials of daily use.

According to The Kathmandu Post, the government is also preparing to quash frequent strikes by the drivers and owners of tankers that ferry fuel across the country.

The Home Ministry is also preparing to ban syndicates in taxi services, putting an end to the practice of drivers bargaining rates from passengers by refusing to use the meter.