The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is concerned at a petition filed by a leading newspaper group in India’s Supreme Court, arguing that the recent wage award for journalists and other newspaper employees, violates the fundamental rights provisions of the Indian Constitution.
Hearing the petition filed by the Kolkata-based Ananda Bazar Patrika newspaper group on July 18, India’s Supreme Court directed that the long delayed wage award be kept in abeyance till the matter is finally determined.
The two Wage Boards constituted under India’s Working Journalists’ Act submitted their reports on new scales of pay for journalists and other newspaper employees, on December 31, 2010, recommending a modest increase in basic wages earned by all categories of workers. G.R. Majithia, a retired high court judge, served as chairman of both boards.
At an earlier hearing of the petition in May 2011, the Supreme Court had directed the Government of India to provide the Kolkata-based newspaper group with copies of the two reports. The IFJ understands that the administrative ministry responsible for carrying out this task failed to do as directed by the court.
“We observe that this lapse on the part of the Labour Ministry in the Government of India has raised concerns among our affiliate unions about the sincerity of the Government in providing a fair deal for journalists and other newspaper employees,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.
“We call upon the Government to dispel the doubts that have arisen without delay.”
The IFJ is also concerned that there have been persistent efforts by the newspaper industry to influence public opinion against the new wage awards. IFJ affiliates in India report that beginning in May, prominent newspapers have carried a number of articles on the editorial and op-ed pages attacking the wage board proposals as a mortal danger to the free press.
The All-India Newspaper Employees’ Federation (AINEF), an IFJ affiliate, pointed out in its June newsletter that the campaign, spearheaded by India’s largest media group the Times of India, was carried out in violation of the basic norms of ethical journalism, such as giving all affected parties – in this case, the unions – the right of reply.
The IFJ’s Indian affiliates have reminded the Indian Newspaper Society, the premier industry-level association, that the constitutional validity of the wage board process for fixing levels of employee compensation in the newspaper industry was upheld by the Supreme Court as far back as 1958, in the case of Express Newspapers vs Union of India.
The issue then was not so much one of press freedom, but of the persistent refusal of the newspaper industry to reveal its financial parameters, which made a fair determination of its capacity to pay virtually impossible.
Similar constraints have hobbled the functioning of the Majithia wage board. In remarks that remained for the most part unreported in the Indian press, Justice Majithia had commented in January that the newspaper industry had been less than forthcoming in terms of providing needed information to his board.
“We are concerned that the wage board features in the news agenda only when there is an occasion for the newspaper industry to attack its functioning and findings,” Park said.
“In the interests of facing the twin crises of profitability and credibility in the Indian newspaper industry, we urge owners and managements to shed their aversion towards investing in quality journalism and ensure a fair deal for all their employees.”
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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