In a statement issued here on Friday in the backdrop of signing of the summary regarding 8th wage board by the Minister for Information Mr. Qamaruz Zaman Kaora the leaders of the apex body of the journalists, said that the journalists and newspaper industry workers had been working on the wages fixed way back in 1995.
They said that the big wigs of the media tycoons including Haruns, Zuberis, Qazis, Mirs and Nizamis had virtually denied implementation of the 7th wage award for the last eight under the cover of judicial gimmickry by waging war of litigations in various courts on one pretext or other thus putting the benefits of the award in cold storage and forcing the media men to “remain at their mercy” with meager wages.
Welcoming the announcement by Information Minister, Kaira in this regard, they said, that constitution of the 8th wage board and implementation of the Seventh Wage Award under the constitution was the prime responsibility of the state, but various governments in the past ignored it, thus multiplying the economic hardships of working journalists and newspaper workers.
They further said while in the public sector organisations, salaries have been increased during the last one decade, newspaper workers have been denied increase in wages and other perks, which resulted in their economic exploitation.
They said that the APNS had been delaying implementation of the award on one pretext or the other, and it was using court cases as a lever to delay the implementation of the award. Newspaper workers, they said, would heave a sigh of relief by this announcement.
They said as a significant period had elapsed, the family members of the newspapermen have suffered during this period, owners have filled in
their coffers and have built empires and have even opened channels to boost their income. Moreover, they have time and again got perks by
bargaining from various governments over the implementation of the seventh wage award.
They said the rise in the pays and perks announced in the 7th wage award had almost vanished keeping in view the gigantic increase in the price of
consumer items.
They pointed out that “many newspaper workers have died in the hope for implementation of the award, and they are also facing mental pressure
because of meagre salaries being given to them by the newspapers. In many newspaper organisations, they said, appointment letters are not issued and APNS members flout labour laws with impunity. Even in the newly-established TV channels, employees are under strain as they are made to work extra hours which range from 12 to 14 hours and without any financial benefit.”
They said as a significant period had elapsed, the family members of the newspapermen have suffered during this period, owners have filled in
their coffers and have built empires and have even opened channels to boost their income. Moreover, they have time and again got perks by
bargaining from various governments over the implementation of the seventh wage award.
They said the rise in the pays and perks announced in the 7th wage award had almost vanished keeping in view the gigantic increase in the price of
consumer items.
They pointed out that “many newspaper workers have died in the hope for implementation of the award, and they are also facing mental pressure
because of meagre salaries being given to them by the newspapers. In many newspaper organisations, they said, appointment letters are not issued and APNS members flout labour laws with impunity. Even in the newly-established TV channels, employees are under strain as they are made to work extra hours which range from 12 to 14 hours and without any financial benefit.”
They hoped that that the Prime Minister would shortly approve the summary moved by the Ministry so that the process of deliberations regarding the 8th wage award between the owners and journalists would begin.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan.
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.pfuj.info
http://www.shamsulislamnaz
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