The International Federation of Journalists joins its affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in calling for an investigation into the alleged disappearance of records of the deliberations of the Seventh Wage Board constituted under the Pakistan Working Journalists’ Act.

According to the PFUJ, the missing records pertain to many of the commitments made by the All-Pakistan Newspapers Society, the apex body of newspaper management, in regard to their obligations to give workers a fair deal.

A PFUJ delegation met with Federal Information Minister Ms Sherry Rehman last Friday, May 16, to protest the delays and the missing records.

“As guardians of the public right to know, journalists from all media must have access to their professional and industrial rights at all times,” said IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park.

“Newspaper and broadcast owners in Pakistan must demonstrate support for their workers by upholding journalists’ safety, fair wages, and reasonable working conditions.”

The continuing default by Pakistan’s newspaper owners on implementing the statutory wage awards for journalists and other workers, has been an area of longstanding concern for the IFJ.

The IFJ welcomes commitments made to the PFUJ last week by the Information Minister on the early implementation of the statutory wage award.

The IFJ also supports the PFUJ call that the Labour Minister in the Federal Government initiate measures immediately for the constitution of the Eighth Wage Board, which is overdue by two years under the law.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries