RIUJ condemns layoffs at BBC Urdu

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 28 March 2013

The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists criticized the BBC Urdu Service for laying off a majority of its reporters in Pakistan. The union argues that the decision undermines journalistic integrity and is unjustified.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists has condemned the decision of the BBC UrduService management to layoff majority of its reporters in Pakistan.

“The decision is arbitrary, unrealistic, unjustified and unwarranted,” RIUJ President Waqar Satti said in statement.

On Tuesday, the BBC managers suddenly announced retrenchment of 10 reporters out of 14 across Pakistan claiming the move will save them 180,000 pounds during the next year.

“The management’s argument does not make sense because the service has set up a huge hierarchy of managers that claims a major share of the salary budget and none of them are being retrenched,” Satti said.

The RIUJ said: “We have also noted that a significant amount of money is being used for undue promotions of cronies and favorites, and the retrenchment appears to be aimed at making room for the kith and kin of the managers rather than saving costs.”

The statement said that the BBC UrduService itself had announced that 11 percent of the total budget saved in previous restructuring would be taken forward until 2014, which clearly means that the latest restructuring is unnecessary.

“The decision means financial murder of reporters who have a major role in making BBC one of the most credible news sources in Pakistan.

“The BBC reporters in Pakistan have been working under constant stress for several years due to an unusual increase in their workload and have at times risked their lives while performing their duties, or received threats for the kind of stories they were doing,” RIUJ pointed out.

“Instead of addressing their legitimate concerns about their security, they are being constantly bullied and harassed by the top management, negating their own commitment about respect at the work place.”

The RIUJ called upon the BBC’s top management to intervene and prevent the BBC Urdu Service management from taking such ruthless action. “We stand by reporters of BBC Pakistan and ensure them all out support.”