IFJ urges newspaper indsutry to accept Wage Award verdict | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

IFJ urges newspaper indsutry to accept Wage Award verdict

ISLAMABAD: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has urged the newspaper industry to accept the judicial ruling in good faith and implement the long-delayed wage award.

“It endorses the PFUJ demand that the Eighth Wage Board be constituted without further delay”, said IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park in a statement.

“The IFJ welcomes this ruling by the High Court in Karachi, though we take no joy from the 11-year record of obstruction by the newspaper industry against the statutory protection extended to newspaper industry workers,” he added.

“The IFJ also extends its congratulations to its affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), on a significant legal victory which will hopefully lead the way to improved wages and working conditions for all Pakistan’s journalists and news industry workers,” he said.

On May 31, the Sindh High Court in Karachi dismissed identical petitions filed by the All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) the apex body representing the industry and the Herald Media group, which sought to quash the Seventh Wage Award for journalists and newspaper workers, announced in 2000.

It is pertinent to mention here that, Pakistan’s newspaper industry workers enjoy legal protection for their wages and working conditions under the Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, passed in 1973.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan (APP)
Date:6/2/2011