Journalists need to be made aware about labour laws, moot told

Stakeholders of the media industry have called for unity among journalist unions and creating awareness about labour laws among journalists in order to protect their rights.

They said this during a meeting of office bearers of a journalists’ union with representatives of the International Federation of Journalists and Working Women Welfare Trust. Giving presentation on state of decent work in Sindh, trainer and journalist Sheher Bano told the stakeholders that a survey on decent work conditions in the province had been carried out to evaluate the working conditions of journalists in seven districts of the province.

She said a formal report had also been prepared with the findings of the survey, according to which journalists faced issues like low and delayed salaries, lack of medical facilities, lack of washrooms and transport facilities, especially for women.

The trainer also talked about various political parties’ manifestos in this regard. She said there was no salary structure or facilities for journalists in Sindh who were working as correspondents of various media houses.

Bano also highlighted the issues of harassment, censorship, mental and physical violence by state or non-state actors, registration of fake FIRs, bullying and threats. The survey revealed journalism had seen a decline in the last few years and many newspapers and channels were closed, rendering journalists jobless.

She said that as per the survey, there was general dissatisfaction among journalists regarding their unions, but the survey also revealed that most of journalists were unaware of the laws which could give them relief.

In her voice message, Press Information Department (PID) Director General Irum Tanveer said the PID was actively working on capacity building of journalists. She mentioned that the PID was working on informing journalists about the relevant laws so that they could advocate for their rights.

Mahnaz Rahman from the Aurat Foundation stressed the need for united efforts to ensure the rights of journalists. Working Women Trust President Rehana Afroz, journalists’ leader GM Jamali, Pakistan Peoples Party’s Shama Meethani, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Zahida Bhund, Shameem Mumtaz, Humaira Quraishi, Ghulam Mustafa and Lubna Jerar Naqvi also spoke.