The New Nation - Internet Edition

Abdul Khaleque

The recommendations of the 7th Wage Board Award 2008 framed by the present Caretaker government has opened a new wheel of fortune for the working journalists, press workers and non-journalists as their salaries and allowances have been doubled keeping in view the prevailing costly and expensive essential commodities in the market to maintain their standard of life.

The award formed in consultation with a 9-member Wage Board committee headed by Chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan after 11 years of 5th Wage Board formed in 1997.

The main objective of the 7th Wage Board was to remove anomalies and discrepancies relating to salaries, allowances on the basis of discussion participated by all concerned.

The Chairman and the Wage Board members held several rounds of meetings and view exchange opinions to reach a consensus. The Chairman and Wage Board members sought opinion for reasonable increase in monthly salaries and allowances, fringe benefits, formation of Workers Welfare Board, letters of appointment and introduction of service book, etc.

They made thorough discussions about the prevailing prices of essential commodities, currency depreciation, and rising inflationary tendency in money market, which has put the newspaper and News agencies in cumbersome condition. The prices of newsprint, ink, chemicals, electricity and the rate of commercial advertisement in the newspaper came up in the discussion for the survival of the persons involved in the Industry. The 7th Wage Board was adopted in the line of the recommendations of the 5th and 6th Wage Board Award and in the light of provisions of the Newspaper Employees (conditions and services) Act 1974 and Labour Laws under Clause 143.

The Board also took into cognizance the Government Pay Commission Report and the overall economic situation prevailing in newspapers and news agencies in the country.

The Board recommended 100 percent increase in the salary structure from 120 percent as prescribed in the 5th Wage Board. The representatives of NOAB said they have no objection to increase salary to 70 percent from 60 percent.

Resentment swept in the newspapers and news agencies offices over the implementation of the 7th Wage Board Award. To quell the disturbance a monitoring team consisting of the leaders of DUJ and BFUJ took step to look into the problems of the Industry with a view to implement the 7th Wage Board and they did it in some newspapers and news agencies on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Few newspapers and news agencies implemented the 7th Wage Board award but the bulk of the industry could not implement it as those are running limping. Of the facilities recommended for Mafassol correspondents the group insurance policy, medical allowance of Taka 680 and two festival bonus equivalent to one month retainer allowance is good. But the management is not willing to implement those and they are being deprived.

The prescribed retainer allowance of Taka 2200 is too inadequate and meagre in view of their academic qualifications, efficiency and troublesome work they undertake in collecting news in different parts of the district. It should be reviewed and up-graded Other service benefits for the journalists should also be incorporated in due course.

Mofassil journalists are part and parcel in the media world of Bangladesh as they are contributing to the development of healthy society by disseminating news and views of the people in the newspaper as they are considered the 4th Estate in press freedom.