Newspaper employees to get interim relief

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 11 April 2019

The 8th Wage Board Award has introduced an interim wage increase for newspaper employees. This adjustment varies based on categories, providing relief from February 1, 2019.

Summary

ISLAMABAD – There was some good news for newspaper employees as the Wage Board announced an interim relief that ranges between Rs 5000 and Rs 8500 per month.

The decision came at a meeting of the 8th Wage Board Award chaired by Justice Hasnat Ahmad Khan.

There was consensus after a marathon discussion on interim relief.

The interim award includes:

All newspapers in Category Metropolitan A

a) Grade Special and above Rs 8,500 per month

b) Grade I to IV Rs 6,500 per month

c) Grade V to VIII Rs 5,000 per month

All newspapers in Category Metropolitan B

These papers will pay at the rate of 50% of that determined for Category Metropolitan A.

All Newspapers in Category Regional

They will pay at the rate of 35% of that fixed for Category Metropolitan A.

All news agencies in Category A

They will pay at the same rate as allowed in respect of newspapers in Category Metropolitan A.

All news agencies in Category B

They will pay at the rate of 50% of the news agencies in Category A.

The decision of an interim increase in wages will take effect from February 1, 2019.

The rates of interim increase in wages of newspaper employees would be subject to adjustment in the final award of the board.

The meeting was attended Hameed Haroon (President APNS), Sarmad Ali (Secretary General APNS), Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Shami (Daily Pakistan), Nasir Chishti (Daily Jang), Bakhtzada Yousafzai (Daily Aeen, Peshawar), Shoaib Uddin (PFUJ Member - Workers), Muhammad Nawaz Raza (PFUJ Member - Dastoor),  Shahzada Zulfiqar (Member Executive Council of PFUJ - Balochistan) and Waseem Abbas, secretary to the Wage Board.

Photo: Twitter (@Afzalbutt01)

KEY POINTS:

• Interim relief ranges from Rs 5000 to Rs 8500 per month.
• Meeting chaired by Justice Hasnat Ahmad Khan reached consensus on wage increase.
• Categories Metropolitan A, B, and Regional have different payment rates.
• Adjustment in wages will be made in the final award by the board.
• Decision affects all newspaper employees and agencies in Pakistan.