The FNJ organised a protest at the KMG office on October 17 in response to the unjust dismissal of82 media workers by KMG management. Journalists and media workers held a sit-in demanding the implementation of a minimum wage and the rehiring of journalists who had been illegally fired from the media group. In a press release, the FNJ announced their plans to protest outside the group’s offices for one hour every day.
The FNJ first received reports of mass-firing in the weeks before Nepal’s national festival holiday, Dashain. Media workers received ‘retirement letters’ via email that failed to state a valid cause for dismissal, a violation ofNepal’s Working Journalist Act and other labour laws. In response to numerous complaints, Nepal’s Minimum Wages Fixation Committee (MWFC) has expressed concern over the reported labour rights violations, with Chair Sangita Khadka issuing a press release urging the media group to implement the Working Journalist Act.
Many of the dismissed journalists had rejected the agreement reached between the management and other representatives of journalists. The FNJ Committee has reported receiving dozens of complaints about the KMG's failure to organise regular salary payments, receive dismissal entitlements, or follow proper procedures for contract terminations. The protest action will be held online from October 21-25 during the Dashain holiday.
The IFJ’s South Asia Press Freedom Report 2022-23 highlighted the ongoing issue of non-payment of wages in Nepal’s media sector. The FNJ received over 64 complaints in 2022-23, with a significant amount emerging from outlets and media groups failing to pay wages or abide by labour rights legislation.
The FNJ said: “The Federation of Nepalese Journalists has announced an indefinite pressure movement against the Kantipur Media Group with the aim of pressing for the legitimate demands raised by the journalists to be addressed as soon as possible according to the Working Journalists Act."
The IFJ said: “The IFJ stands in solidarity with all media workers in Nepal fighting for their professional rights. Media outlets should not be able to illegally dismiss or underpay their employees with impunity. The IFJ urges the KMG group to abide by the Working Journalist Act and other labour rights legislation, and calls on the Nepali government to ensure that the security and labour rights of journalists are uncompromised.”