The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation of journalists representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is deeply concerned about the excessive delay in the implementation of the Seventh Wage Board decision, announced on 8 October 2001, particularly in relation to journalists.
According to our information, newspaper owners across the country have failed to implement the three-year-old wage decision. Moreover, the All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) has for the past ten days been publishing advertisements in Pakistani newspapers urging the government to repeal the relevant law, arguing that it will damage freedom of the press in Pakistan.
The President of the IFJ Christopher Warren said that the absurdity of this argument is demonstrated by the refusal of the APNS to publish statements from the IFJ’s affiliate in Pakistan, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ).
“The IFJ firmly believes that press freedom cannot thrive when journalists do not have adequate wages and conditions,” Warren said. ”These will continue to prevail so long as the APNS continues to disregard its obligations of the wage agreement, as it has done for the past three years.”
“We therefore reiterate calls for the implementation of the Seventh Wage Award, and urge the Pakistani Government to ensure that the APNS meet the requirements of the law,” Warren said.
For further information, please contact Christopher Warren on +61 411 757 668
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 100 countries
