The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and
its affiliate the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) welcome the renewed
focus on journalists’ wages and working conditions in Nepal, while registering deep
concern at the picture that emerges from a recent report of the statutory
Committee for the Fixation of Minimum Wages.
The
Committee, formed under Nepal’s Working Journalists’ Act (WJA) has pointed out,
in a report submitted on November 24, that 37 percent of the country’s
journalists are paid below the prescribed minimum wage, while 45 percent of
journalists are working without letters of appointment. Among the media houses
surveyed, 48 percent had failed to introduce basic measures such as retirement
and welfare funds, medical cover and insurance.
“The IFJ has
stood by the FNJ in their tireless campaign for democracy and subsequent work
with Nepal’s
new political order to see vitally needed amendments to the Working Journalists’
Act introduced,” IFJ Asia-Pacific
Director Jacqueline Park said.
“However,
the figures revealed by this report show that media houses are still choosing
not to invest in quality journalism or the professional development of members
of staff, and they in many cases fail to comply with their legal obligations to
issue letters of appointment.”
According to
the FNJ, the recent media boom in Nepal has created favourable
conditions for professionals within newspapers and broadcasters catering to the
upper income demographic strata, which are generally favoured by the high-value
advertisers. However, the situation for the vast majority of journalists,
including those in Nepal’s
dynamic and expanding radio sector, remains dismal.
“The IFJ supports the FNJ’s efforts to ensure that this annual audit of working
conditions and wages in the media is widely discussed – and most importantly –
acted upon,” Ms Park said.
For further information
contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612
9333 0919
The IFJ represents more than 600,000
journalists in 125 countries
Find the IFJ on Twitter:
@ifjasiapacific