April 24 : The private sector has urged the government to come up with calibrated monetary and fiscal stimulus measures to deal with the economic fallout from COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown.
In their meeting with chief secretary of the government, Lok Darshan Regmi, in the capital on Thursday (April 23 ), the office-bearers of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) came up with a demand to this effect
They also lamented that the industries and factories across the country are on the verge of closure due to the “stay-at home” order being imposed by the government since March 24. “As such, we will be able to pay only 50 per cent of the wages of workers for the lockdown period. The government should make the remaining 50 per cent payment through the provision of grant”
During the meeting, Chief Secretary Regmi told the representatives of the apex business orgnisations that the government will take their concerns in a serious light and take measures accordingly. “We are well aware that the private sector directly contributes as high as 70 per cent to the national economy. So, the government is committed to apply every measure to reinvigorate the private sector and also revive the economy.”