IFJ calls for payment of wages to Pakistani journalists

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 22 July 2019

Journalists in Pakistan are experiencing severe financial difficulties due to unpaid wages and salary reductions. The IFJ and PFUJ call for immediate action to address this crisis.

Summary

Journalists in Pakistan are facing financial instability with reports that some have not been paid for over three months, while others have had their salary cut between 10-40 percent in the past six months.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) stands with its affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in demanding media houses to pay outstanding wages immediately, and call on the government to take action to resolve the growing financial instability.

The issue of withheld salaries was raised as early as February 2019 and remained an on-going issue. On February 1 journalists from Geo News staged protests in newsrooms across Pakistan demanding unpaid salaries.

They also launched strikes, which came after several months waiting for salary payments. Journalists at Dawn have had their salaries cut between 10-40 percent in the past six months. Similarly, Dawn journalists held countrywide protests against the salary cuts and mass layoffs.

PFUJ President GM Jamali and Secretary-General Rana Azeem have condemned the delayed salaries for the media workers. Also, PFUJ has demanded the government to take this issue seriously and ensure the pending salaries are paid soon.

“As it is the Pakistani media is going through an extremely tough time with increased pressure from anti-democratic forces that are trying to silence the media, financial pressures are only adding to this. If the pending salaries are not resolved immediately, we will be forced to call for a nationwide go-slow protest followed by ‘shutter down’ protest,” PFUJ President GM Jamali said in the statement.

The IFJ said: “We stand in solidarity with PFUJ and our colleagues in Pakistan in demanding action for the ongoing financial instability that they are facing. Journalists must be paid for their work, and we demand those withholding wages to immediately rectify the situation.” – IFJ media release/Photo: PFUJ

KEY POINTS:

• Numerous journalists have not received payments for over three months.
• Salary cuts range between 10-40 percent for some journalists in the past six months.
• Protests and strikes have been staged by journalists demanding unpaid wages.
• The PFUJ has condemned the delay in salary payments and urges government intervention.
• Financial pressure is exacerbated by increased threats to press freedom.