The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation representing over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries, has called on the government, publishers and media employers of Pakistan to honour and implement the decision of the Seventh Wage Board.
The IFJ is concerned that thousands of Pakistani journalists and media workers are languishing under rapidly eroding employment rights, including unacceptable working conditions, severe job insecurity and poor wages.
The Seventh Wage Board Decision was handed down in October 2001 and provided Pakistani journalists with a legal right to fair wages and working conditions, but was not taken-up by employers.
"Effectively, Pakistani journalists and media employees have been deprived of their legal rights for over five years", said IFJ President Christopher Warren.
The IFJ has penned a letter of support to the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and is planning a day of action to mark the anniversary of the Seventh Wage Board in October.
Further to the despair of Pakistani journalists, the tenure of the Chairman of the Implementation Tribunal has expired, and the Pakistani government is yet to announce a new Chairman.
The IFJ has urged the Pakistani government to speed-up the appointment of a new Chairman and to introduce labour inspectors to ensure employee rights are being put into practice. The IFJ also supports the move to link government advertising with the implementation of the wage award.
"Because of the growing economic problems, sky rocketing prices and increase in the cost of living, the newspaper workers are extremely concerned. All this is creating frustration among the employees and may lead to confrontation", said the Secretary General of the PFUJ, Mazhar Abbas.
Despite the silence of employers, the PFUJ continues to rally for the long overdue economic and workplace rights that Pakistan's media workers are entitled to.
"The IFJ believes it is essential that journalists receive the living wage they need to support their families and practice professional, quality journalism", said the IFJ President.
"Publishers and newspaper owners cannot continue to flout the law and deny thousands of journalists and other newspaper employees their legal entitlements", said Warren.
To view the letter go to http://www.ifj-asia.org/files/pakistan050902_letter.pdf
For more information on the current wage crisis in Pakistan, please visit: http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/pakistan050815.html
For more information please contact Christopher Warren +61 (0) 411 757 668
The IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in over 110 countries
