AMWJU to host IJU national executive meeting at Imphal
Imphal, August 10: With the tripartite agreement between the Manipur government, AMWJU and press proprietors having brought to implement the recommendation of the Majithiya wage board at the earliest, Manipur government will issue a gazette notification to implement the recommendations of the wage board soon.
Addressing the media persons, All Manipur Working Journalists Union, AMWJU, President Wangkhemcha Shamjai told the reporters that journalists in the state afflicted with conflicts have been working amidst all odds under a very low salary. To promote the living status of the journalists by increasing their salary with job security, AMWJU has been pressuring the government and other stakeholders to implement the Majithiya wage board for years.
He said that the apex Supreme Court had directed the states to implement the Majithia Wage Board for the welfare of journalists on October 11, 2011. Due to pending cases filed against the wage board recommendations, it could not be implemented for years. With the pending cases having dissolved, the apex court directed the press proprietors to pay minimum wages to the journalists according to the gross annual income earned by a media house with effect from May 1, 2014 including arrears starting from Ocober 11, 2011. If the wage board is implemented, a journalist in Manipur will enjoy minimum basic salary starting from Rs.8,000 to Rs.50,000 a month, added he.
Stating that the wage board strongly recommends conviction of a Press proprietor with confiscation of his property in case he is found to have violated the rights of journalists prescribed by the wage board, he appeals the press proprietors to implement the recommendation without fail while urging the journalists to pursue their rights.
He went on to say that AMWJU for the first time is all set to host the National Executive Council Meeting of Indian Journalists’ Union (IJU) in November this year at Imphal. The matter wil be finalized during the national IJU executive meeting to be held at Tirupati from September 11 to 17 wherein four AMWJU members led by Ratan Luwangcha, Vice-president AMWJU would take part and highlight the problems being faced by Manipur journalists.
AMWJU president said that the government has given nod for setting up of press Academy in the state as well as press colony for journalists at Lamphel near CRPF camp. Apart from this, government Okays allotment of a AMWJU jiribam branch office.
