PFUJ ask for better Environment for Media workers

 Islamabad, Jan. 26 :- The Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has awarded a phase wise program for securing the economic rights of media workers, capacity building of journalists, life insurance, implementation of 7th wage board award, Constitution of 8th wage board, job security and conducive working environment.

This decision has been taken in moot of three days FEC on concluding session.

The FEC noted concern that the wages and fringe benefits were not enhanced since July 1996 and during this period the prices have gone up from three hundred to five hundred persons yet the media workers are forced to take salaries at old rates. as against this FEC observed the rates of the newspapers advertisements and other charges have also increased by media house almost four hundred percent besides taking huge benefits to tune of billions of rupees from federal government in shape of duty concessions in federal taxes, levies and import duties.

The FEC also noted with concern that the media workers are deprived all legitimate rights and privileges provided in labor laws, newspapers employees (conditions) Service act. likewise no appointment letters are issued to media workers and they are being forced to work on contract bases so as to deprive them from the benefits of pension, gratuity, leave and other monetary facilities admissible under law.

The FEC also observed that no job security life security and conducive environment is available to media persons rather the media workers are forced to work round the clock without any specific time schedule, medical facilities and other benefits. The retrenchment of media workers from media houses have become order of the day. in recent past, over five hundred media workers working in Channel 5, Geo, Dawn News, Royal TV, Dharti, News One, Apna Channel and other channels have been summarily removed from service without notice pay and other legitimate benefits. Such tendency in media houses are going on without any check and accountability and concern agency which encourage media owners to continue to violate laws with impunity.

The FEC also noted with concern that all the human rights organisation, civil society, lawyers, political parties are silent over such sorry state of affairs which shows that that have no sympathy with media workers which is one of the most important pillar of democratic system. The FEC urged the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo moto notice of the miserable conditions of media workers, non implementation of 7th wage board award, failure of the government agency to protect rights of media persons.

The FEC also condemned the indecent attitude of lawyers with media persons in Lahore and Karachi and termed it a very disgraceful act and intolerance in lawyers who are suppose to be the custodian of law and believer of freedom of expression resisting media persons from discharging their profession assignments. The FEC also condemned the maltreatment of Quetta Police with journalists.

 
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.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk

PFUJ ask for better Environment for Media workers

 Islamabad, Jan. 26 :- The Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has awarded a phase wise program for securing the economic rights of media workers, capacity building of journalists, life insurance, implementation of 7th wage board award, Constitution of 8th wage board, job security and conducive working environment.

This decision has been taken in moot of three days FEC on concluding session.

The FEC noted concern that the wages and fringe benefits were not enhanced since July 1996 and during this period the prices have gone up from three hundred to five hundred persons yet the media workers are forced to take salaries at old rates. as against this FEC observed the rates of the newspapers advertisements and other charges have also increased by media house almost four hundred percent besides taking huge benefits to tune of billions of rupees from federal government in shape of duty concessions in federal taxes, levies and import duties.

The FEC also noted with concern that the media workers are deprived all legitimate rights and privileges provided in labor laws, newspapers employees (conditions) Service act. likewise no appointment letters are issued to media workers and they are being forced to work on contract bases so as to deprive them from the benefits of pension, gratuity, leave and other monetary facilities admissible under law.

The FEC also observed that no job security life security and conducive environment is available to media persons rather the media workers are forced to work round the clock without any specific time schedule, medical facilities and other benefits. The retrenchment of media workers from media houses have become order of the day. in recent past, over five hundred media workers working in Channel 5, Geo, Dawn News, Royal TV, Dharti, News One, Apna Channel and other channels have been summarily removed from service without notice pay and other legitimate benefits. Such tendency in media houses are going on without any check and accountability and concern agency which encourage media owners to continue to violate laws with impunity.

The FEC also noted with concern that all the human rights organisation, civil society, lawyers, political parties are silent over such sorry state of affairs which shows that that have no sympathy with media workers which is one of the most important pillar of democratic system. The FEC urged the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo moto notice of the miserable conditions of media workers, non implementation of 7th wage board award, failure of the government agency to protect rights of media persons.

The FEC also condemned the indecent attitude of lawyers with media persons in Lahore and Karachi and termed it a very disgraceful act and intolerance in lawyers who are suppose to be the custodian of law and believer of freedom of expression resisting media persons from discharging their profession assignments. The FEC also condemned the maltreatment of Quetta Police with journalists.

 
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.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk