A group of tourism workers led by UNITRAV on September 8 handed over a 21-point charter of demands to newly elected executive committee of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN). UNITRAV president Sarki Tamang handed over the memorandum to TAAN president Sitaram Sapkota and gave a 15-day ultimatum to fulfill their demands. Receiving the memorandum, Sapokta said TAAN was positive on the demands and take necessary action by consulting with the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. “I would like to assure you that we will soon come up with programmes that will be in the interest of trekkers, handling agencies and the workers,” Sapkota added. TAAN has already forwarded the demands to its member agencies for their suggestions. The workers have demanded TAAN to guarantee social security for workers and form workers’ welfare fund under the joint aegis of the government and representatives of workers’ unions. It has also demanded immediate rescue of workers in case of incidents and manage medical insurance of Rs 200,000 and life insurance of Rs 2,000,000. They have also demanded the formation of clothing banks in all trekking regions and use the proceeds from TIMS for the welfare of workers in the mountain regions. UNITRAV has also urged TAAN to fix minimum daily wages and allowance for workers in trekking and mountaineering expeditions. The organisation has submitted similar demands to tourism ministry, finance ministry, department of labour, tourism industry division under the tourism ministry and a number of other organisations.