Nepal Government Cancels 12 Trade Union Registrations

The Nepal government has formally cancelled the registration of 12 trade unions linked to civil service and health sector employees, marking a major administrative change following a recent ordinance aimed at ending politically affiliated employee organizations.

The decision was made on Wednesday by the registrar of the Department of Labour and Occupational Safety. The move comes after the government introduced an ordinance amending several existing laws, including provisions related to civil service employee unions and national-level trade organizations.

The latest action affects unions registered under both the Civil Service Act and the Health Service Act, bringing an end to the legal status of several long-standing employee associations operating within government institutions.

Government Implements Ordinance Through Administrative Decision

The Department of Labour and Occupational Safety confirmed that the registrations were revoked through an official decision taken by the registrar on Wednesday. The action follows the government’s recent ordinance that removed provisions allowing politically aligned trade unions among civil servants.

The ordinance amended multiple laws and introduced changes targeting employee organizations connected to political groups. As part of the implementation process, the department moved ahead with cancelling the registrations of organizations that had previously operated under the legal framework of the Civil Service Act 2049 and the Health Service Act.

The decision represents one of the most significant administrative steps taken after the ordinance came into effect.

Eight Civil Service Trade Unions Lose Registration

A total of eight organizations linked to civil service employees have had their registrations cancelled. These unions were previously registered under the Civil Service Act.

The organizations affected include:

• Nepal Civil Servants Organization
• Nepal Civil Servants Union
• Nepal National Civil Servants Organization
• Nepal Madhesi Civil Servants Forum
• Nepal Health Workers Association
• Madhesi Health Workers Forum Nepal
• Unified Government Employees Organization Nepal
• Independent Nation Servant Employees Organization Nepal

These groups had represented various categories of government employees and civil servants across different sectors.

Health Sector Organizations Also Affected

The government’s decision also applies to trade unions registered under the Health Service Act. Four organizations from the health sector were included in the cancellation order issued by the department.

The health-related unions whose registrations were revoked are:

• Nepal Health Workers Union
• Health Workers Union Nepal
• National Health Workers Association Nepal
• National Progressive Health Workers Organization

The cancellation means these organizations no longer hold official registration status under the existing legal structure.

Policy Shift Targets Politically Affiliated Employee Groups

The latest move reflects the government’s broader policy direction regarding employee organizations within state institutions. The ordinance introduced earlier had specifically addressed party-linked employee unions operating among civil servants.

By revoking the registration of these organizations, authorities appear to be enforcing the legal changes introduced through the ordinance. The decision is expected to directly affect unions associated with government workers and health service employees.

The government has not announced any replacement mechanism or alternative structure for employee representation in the information released alongside the decision.

Administrative and Legal Implications

The cancellation of registrations changes the legal standing of the affected unions. Since the organizations were registered under existing acts governing civil service and health sector employees, the removal of that registration may impact their official operations.

The Department of Labour and Occupational Safety carried out the action through its registrar’s office, making the process an administrative implementation of the ordinance rather than a separate legislative decision.

The move also signals the government’s intention to strictly apply the provisions introduced through the amended laws.

Decision Draws Attention Across Public Sector

The cancellation of 12 trade unions is likely to draw attention across government institutions and public sector workplaces, especially among civil servants and health employees connected to the affected organizations.

Because the unions represented different professional and regional groups, the decision may have a broad impact across several administrative and health service bodies.

The development comes at a time when the government is introducing changes to public sector governance and employee-related regulations. Wednesday’s decision by the registrar officially puts those changes into action through the removal of trade union registrations.