PFUJ demands safety of media workers amid Coronavirus outbreak

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 28 March 2020

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists demands immediate safety protocols for media workers due to Coronavirus infections. They insist that media houses provide necessary protective gear and ensure timely salaries for all employees.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) has demanded immediate safety measures for media workers after three got infected with Coronavirus.

President Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary-General Nasir Zaidi said this in a joint statement on Saturday.

They urged the media houses to ensure safety and provide journalists and their crews personal protection kits, which are mandatory for professionals.

“It is the responsibility of the government to enforce its advisory and guidelines to fight Coronavirus,” they demanded.

PFUJ also urged the owners to strictly follow the advice and guidelines issued by the government so that the lives of journalists and media workers and their families could be saved, besides paying them salaries on time.

They called on the federal government to immediately release the already verified amount of Rs6 billion pending on account of advertisements so that media houses could also fight the situation and pay salaries.

“There is no reason for holding back that amount,” the PFUJ leaders said.

KEY POINTS:

• PFUJ demands urgent safety measures for media workers.
• Three journalists have been infected with Coronavirus.
• Media houses must provide personal protection kits.
• Government is urged to enforce health guidelines.
• PFUJ calls for timely payment of salaries from media houses.