Labour Inspectors to look into media wages
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 04 2015 :
In a significant development, the State Labour Department has appointed three officers of the department as inspectors to determine as to whether the dues and the entitlements of all categories of newspaper employees including journalists under Majithia Wage Board Award have been implemented in the State in accordance with terms thereof.
The three inspectors have been appointed under section 17-B of the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (conditions of service) and Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1855 (45 of 1955), Labour Department's Deputy Commissioner E Tomba told a press meet at Manipur Press Club on Thursday.
The newly appointed inspectors will exercise their powers as provided under the Act and submit their report to the Supreme Court through the State Labour Commissioner indicating the precise findings on the issue within a period of three months from the date of notification, he further informed the press meet jointly organized by All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and the Labour Department.
Tomba informed that baring monthly salary, allowance, TA and bonus are also entitled to all newspaper employees once the Majithia Wage Board Award is implemented.
All journalists can fight for their rights if these facilities are not given to them, he stated.
However, he said there are working journalists and non-journalists in the media houses who are categorized from grade 1 to 8 and therefore all entitlements are given according to this division.
The Labour Deputy Commissioner said action should be taken against those individuals who disregard the apex court's recommendation and maintained that these entitlements are not to be decided on profit basis.
The appointment of three inspectors is intended to work towards fulfilling the privileges to all working journalists and non-journalists recommended by the Majithia Wage Board, he added.
AMWJU president Wangkhemcha Shamjai, vice president Ratan Luwangcha and the newly appointed three Labour inspectors�H Rajmohon, RK Balaram and Ch Chandrakumar�were also present during the press meet.