Emphasis on increasing remuneration of working journalists

Patan (Lalitpur), Jan 22: Emphasis has been laid on increasing the remuneration of working journalists on time.

At a district-level interaction on the ‘Implementation Status of Working Journalists Act and Act Amendment’ organized by the Minimum Wages Fixation Committee (MWFC) under the coordination of the Lalitpur chapter of the Federation of Nepali Journalists here on Wednesday, the speakers stressed the need to determine the salary promptly as the salary of the journalists has not increased for a long time.

On the occasion, the chairperson of MWFC, Sangita Khadka, said a recommendation has now been made for a 40 percent increase in minimum remuneration as journalists’ remuneration has not been increased for around five years. “The government should bring the committee’s recommendation into implementation soon. It should give special stress at the policy level for the long-term development of the journalism sector by resolving problems of journalists and media houses,” she argued.

Khadka pointed out the need to empower MWFC with laws and resources for the implementation of the Working Journalists Act. Similarly, the treasurer of the FNJ, Ram Krishna Adhikari, shared that the trend of making laws and not implementing them has created problems. He emphasized the need to provide responsibility to the MWFC for the implementation of acts by amending it, as the MWFC has only the right to monitor.

FNJ Valley Province President and member of MWFC, Tenis Roka, mentioned that the committee has been monitoring the implementation situation of minimum wages and would submit suggestions for improvement. Likewise, the President of FNJ, Lalitpur, Ram Hari Karki, said continuous discussion would be held with stakeholders for the welfare of the journalists, including a salary increase, and initiatives would be taken to resolve problems through dialogue. —RSS