Acting on the recommendations made for working journalists by the Centre-appointed Majithia Wage Board, the Jharkhand Government has decided to go ahead with its provisions in the State as well. The Government has given the media houses functioning in the State to comply with the provisions by August 15.
Informing about the decision labour, Employment and Training Minister KN Tripahi said on Thursday that the department would press into action Deputy labour Commissioners and labour Inspectors to raid the media houses in order to ensure the implementation.
“All the media houses falling into the criteria fixed by the Wage Board have to adhere to the recommendations made for minimum wages, perks and leaves. Teams of officials would visit the newspaper offices and recommend action in case of violation under the provisions of labour law on which the department would take action. Time till August 15 has been given to the media houses,” said Tripathi.
The recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board had been accepted by the Government of India on October 25, 2011 and a notification has been published on November 11 the same year in the Gazette of India. Though, the matter was challenged in court and in April, 2014 the Supreme Court while dismissing the plea of newspaper managements seeking review of its earlier judgment, directing them to implement the recommendations accepted by the central Government made by the Majithia Wage Board, paved the way for its implementation.
The Bench even earlier on February 7 upheld the recommendations of the Board for journalists and non-journalists on their pay structure and had directed that the revised salaries be granted to the employees. Chairman of National Wage Boards for Working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees Justice GR Majithia and the members had submitted their final report on December 31, 2010.
“We want complete freedom for the press. As per the provisions, newspapers with turnover between Rs1 crore to Rs1000 crore annually will be covered under it. I have studied the recommendations and decided to implement the provisions for the journalists working in category-Y city like Ranchi and in the other category towns as well,” said the Minister.
The department would issue a notice to all the media houses based in the State soon. The Minister clarified that all necessary documentations would be readied within a week time and by July a formal notification would be circulated addressing the newspaper organisations of the State. Journalists working on the wage board in any newspaper on or before August 15 and defined under the job categories in the recommendations would come under the provisions.