ISLAMABAD- Both the workers and owners of the newspapers should jointly develop and strengthen the institution of the press, Chairman, Seventh Wage Board, Justice (retd) Raja Afrasiab Khan said.
He assured the workers of the newspaper industry that the next meeting would be held on December 15 and after two days of deliberations, the interim relief would be announced keeping in view the rightful demands of both the sides in accordance with the law. He said: “The problems of everyone will be resolved soon with the help and cooperation of both the sides as both are the wheels of same vehicle.”
Justice (retd) Raja Afrasiab Khan was speaking at the Iftar party hosted in his honour by the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalist (RIUJ) and the All Pakistan Newspapers Confederation (APNEC) at the newly established National Press Club (NPC).
The leaders of different unions, including Convener NPC C R Shamsi, President RIUJ Pervaiz Shaukat, senior journalists Nasir Zaidi, Bilal Thaheem, local APNEC chairman Fauzia Shahid, Secretary-General Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), General-Secretary The News Workers Union Abdul Qadeer and President Jang Union Nasir Chishtie, were present on the occasion.
Former president PFUJ Tahir Rathore described the presence of the judge amongst them as good omen reposing complete confidence in him.
The union leaders pleaded before the judge to also consider the contractual employees while announcing the award and announce interim relief to ameliorate the sufferings of the workers. They also highlighted the new trend developed among the owners to keep the regular staff at the minimum strength to the disadvantage of the staff.
The senior journalists, including M Ziauddin of Dawn, Raja Asghar of the Reuters and Ahmad Hassan Alvi, also attended the party among others.
Justice (retd) Afrasiab explained to the workers that the owners of the newspapers were equally hard pressed due to the rising price hike, as they had to incur huge expenses to bring out a newspaper these days in the shape of newsprint tax which had increased from $470 to $780 per ton, 30 per cent customs duty, 30 per cent clearing charges, ever swelling electricity bills, etc.
Justice (retd) Afrasiab assured that he was always open to listen to everyone for which he was even ready to go at the doorsteps of every party. He said: “In fact, I persuaded the workers to listen to the demands of the owners, which helped in ending their boycott.”
The Wage Board chairman said he was going to Peshawar today to hear the viewpoint of workers and owners.
Earlier, Nasir Zaidi informed the judge that out of 21, 000 employees in the newspaper industry throughout the country, only 2,000 were regular while the rest were still on contract. He said the majority of the regular employees were employed in the three major groups. Despite the presence of law, no employee was ever regularised after the completion of 90-day probation, he added.
Abdul Qadeer highlighted different anomalies and problems being faced by the contractual staff. Tahir Rathore was of the view that the meagre salaries and lack of facilities had even put the self-esteem and respect of the journalist community at stake.
CR Shamsi explained the struggle waged by the workers to protect the institutions against the clutches of tyrant rulers. He said the recent was the episode of Jang when Nawaz Sharif government had attempted to close down the biggest news group of the country. Shamsi said Justice (retd) Afrasiab would always be remembered as a hero and his name would be written in the history with golden letters.
Source: The News
Date:12/6/2000
