Govt accepts demands of journalists for wage board award, compensation says PFUJ

ISLAMABAD, Mar 20 : The federal government here on Thursday accepted demands put up by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) for compensation, insurance, formation of 8th wage board and security of media houses and press clubs. Speaking to journalists gathered at a sit in before the Parliament House, Federal Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Nazir Saeed announced compensation plan for killed and injured mediamen. President PFUJ Afzal Butt, President Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) Ali Raza Alvi and other representatives of the journalists led the negotiations with the government. The Secretary said the ministry worked on a plan of action to accept demands of the journalists and now a journalist killed in line of duty will get Rs. one million as compensation while an injured journalist will get Rs.300,000.  He said a special desk will be set at Press Information Department (PID) to facilitate media workers in getting life insurance through Employees
Old Age Benefit Institution (EOBI). He said the government has also worked on a plan for providing effective security at media houses and press clubs. The Secretary said special public prosecutors will be appointed at federal and provincial levels, speedy trials will be held and witnesses will be provided protection in cases of mediamen killed in acts of violence. Dr. Nazir Saeed said steps are being taken for formation of Eight Wage Board Award. The government is in the process of finalizing names for the board in consultation with all the stakeholders.
The Secretary said Chairman Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE) will also be appointed. He said a welfare fund would also be set up for the mediamen and the
provincial governments would contribute to this fund. The provincial assemblies of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had backed demands of the journalists while Sindh assembly would also approve a resolution in their support in the next session. President PFUJ Afzal Butt and President RIUJ Ali Raza Alvi said the journalist organizations would continue to strive for protection and promotion of rights of media men.
Source.PFUJ