NPC seeks suspension of channels' licenses not paying wages
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 6 February 2019
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The National Press Club has urged PEMRA to suspend the licenses of channels not paying their employees. This request follows a protest against wage cuts at Dawn Media Group.Summary
ISLAMABAD – The National Press Club has submitted an application with Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) seeking license suspension of channels terminating workers, and not paying salaries on time.
Anwar Raza (pictured), secretary of the club, disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing a protest outside the offices of Dawn Media Group in Islamabad.
He said that PEMRA laws require assessing a channel’s financial worth before granting of a license, hence those not paying salaries to staff should be punished.
Raza said that the chairman had assured them that he would consult his licensing staff, and others on Thursday and issue notices to news organizations.
The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) organized Wednesday's protest outside Dawn that recently announced a 40 percent pay cut in staff wages.
Photo: Facebook
KEY POINTS:
- NPC submitted an application to PEMRA regarding license suspensions.
- Channels terminating workers and not paying salaries are targeted.
- A protest was held outside Dawn Media Group over wage cuts.
- PEMRA laws require financial assessments before issuing licenses.
- The chairman of PEMRA promised to review the matter and issue notices.
