General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) was established on 20th July 1989. As there was no union right in Nepal; GEFONT was launched underground.
GEFONT has 20 affiliates (as of April, 2014), which cover all three fields- the agriculture, industries and services; covering various sectors such as manufacturing, textiles and clothing, carpet industry, transport, hotels, restaurants and catering, tourism, printing, auto-mechanics, food production, breweries, chemical and metal industry, rickshaw pullers, tea plantations, street vendors, private school, hair dressers & beauticians, employees of security sector, thanka painting, tax- counselling, courier & cargo service, gold & jewellery work, construction and agriculture.
As a largest trade union Confederation in Nepal, GEFONT represents nearly 400,000 workers from all affiliates.
Over 33% women have been elected in National Executive Committee of GEFONT from its 5th National Congress.
GEFONT is one the founders of international trade union body- the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) established on November 2006. GEFONT affiliates are affiliated with various Global Union Federations (GUFs).