On January 29, Indian Newspaper Day, leading media trade unions and other journalists’ organisations warn against the proposed Labour Codes that will demolish the Working Journalists Acts and our basic rights. They have demanded fair working conditions and decent wages.
The Kerala Union of Working Journalists, the Delhi Union of Journalists, the Press Club of India, the National Alliance of Journalists, The Press Association, the Indian Women’s Press Corps, the Andhra Pradesh Working Journalists’ Federation and the Brihanmumbai Union of Journalists call for a review of the deteriorating status of the print and other media today.
The day is an occasion to reflect on the collective achievements of the Indian press, especially that of the working journalists and press workers over the years. Despite epochal developments like the constitution of the first National Press Commission that led to the enactment of the Working Journalists’ Act, 1955 and the Press Council, in recent years, the press as a whole has seen several setbacks in the form of arbitrary lay-offs, unfair labour practices and deteriorating working conditions.
Bodies like the Press Council have been rendered redundant over the years. The press, just as it was censored during the British Raj under one pretext or the other, faces similar pressures. Additionally, its corporatization poses a severe threat to the rights of journalists and to the nature of journalism itself.
Despite the advancement in technology in the media, they deplored that the journalists and press workers work way beyond the hours stipulated under the Working Journalists (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Rules. Journalists are expected to be on call at all hours of the day and work simultaneously on the print, digital and electronic space – all within the same pay package.
“Even though the Act excludes editors, reporters, photo journalists and camera persons from ‘shift’ duties, some prominent media groups have introduced the biometric pattern of attendance, making physical presence of correspondents mandatory in office for a specified number of hours” said Sujata Madhok, President, Delhi Union of Journalists.
She reiterated the demand that the Working Journalists’ Act be restored in its original form and extended to cover the electronic and the digital media as well. It cannot be subsumed under the Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code. Journalism is not like any other occupation.
The social role that the media performs in strengthening and upholding democracy cannot be understated. It needs to be treated differently and the rights of journalists need to be protected at all times.
Sujata Madhok also demanded the constitution of an independent and statutory Media Commission to look into working conditions of and harassment of journalists by state and non-state actors. In this context, she also reiterated the demand for the long pending constitution of the Wage Board.