Implementation of 7th Wage Board Award demanded | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Implementation of 7th Wage Board Award demanded

LAHORE- While demanding of the government to formally notify the 7th Wage Board Award, hundreds of the journalists took to the streets, urging the newspapers owners to implement the Award announced by the Wage Board Chairman, former Justice Raja Afrasiab Khan.

The journalists’ leadership has warned the government that their protest campaign will continue till all their demands are accepted.

The Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) had taken out this procession on the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) to register their protest on non-implementation of the 7th wage board award. The journalists marched from PUJ office at Dyal Singh Mansion The Mall to Governor House chanting slogans against the contractual system of employment in the newspapers, forced retrenchment of journalists and unnecessary delay in the implementation of the 7th wage board award.

The journalists who were marching peacefully towards the Governor’s House were stopped four times in their track by heavy police contingent. They tried to force them to abandon their march saying that the journalists were not allowed to protest in front of the Governor’s House. Some police officials also misbehaved with the protesting media men, manhandled them and used abusive language however, the journalists continued the march and finally reached their destination despite hurdles created by the city police.

Speaking on the occasion, PFUJ President IH Rashid said that the newspaper owners always oppose the wage award and create unnecessary delay in their implementation. The government shall intervene in the situation to put an end to anti-labor policies of the employers,” he asserted. He asked the employers not to terminate the services of contract employees and stop using strong-arm tactics against the employees.

Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) President Usman Bin Ahmed asked the newspapers owners to immediately implement the 7th wage board award as the journalist community was already underpaid. “It is imperative to implement the wage award and abolish the contractual system of employment from newspaper industry,” he added.

PUJ Senior Vice President Jalil Hasan Akhter Raja briefed the Secretary to Governor about the demands of the journalist’s community. He urged the President Gen. Musharraf to intervene and pressurize the newspaper owners’ t o implement the award.

PUJ Secretary General Muhammad Akram, while addressing the congregation, said that the journalists of the country have launched a struggle for their rights and it will continue till all their demands are accepted

He strongly criticized the demand made by All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) to abolish the Newspapers Employees (Condition and Service) Act 1973 and said it is an attempt to deprive the working journalists of their basic rights.

President Lahore Press Club Moin Azhar was of the view that the Punjab Government should make conditional release of advertisement to newspapers with the implementation of wage award.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:11/2/2001