Organization of some news paper owners (NOAB) of Dhaka have said in statement released on Tuesday (Sept.17) that the 9th wage board award is not pragmatic and not possible to implement it.
The statement signed by its president Matiur Rahman said that the government without taking into consideration of the fact that the news paper industry which has been facing acute crisis and problems, the government had published the gazette of 9th wage board award (though a writ case is pending in Appellate Division of the Supreme Court regarding formation of the wage board).
It has been further said that NOAB is never against the wage board. The NOAB has requested the government to make pragmatic for both journalists and the owners.
In a meeting held on Monday (September16), NOAB termed the 9th Wage Board award as unrealistic and said that no newspaper is capable of implementing the 9th wage board. The meeting was attended by some news paper owners, editors and news editors. Newspaper owners have always tried to ensure the financial security of the journalists and pay the increased salary and allowances in the past. Even then, some newspapers have tried their level best to implement the government announced wage board award, the statement said.
However, the newspaper industry is passing the worst time in the history of the country. Both circulation and income from advertisement have been sliding down continually.
On the other hand, government advertisement rate has always been very low. Besides, a large amount of advertisement revenue always remains pending with the government departments. No newspapers shall be able to implement the 9th Wage Board. The NOAB feels that to keep the newspaper industry alive, the government must reconsider the 9th Wage Board Award and seriously consider the recommendations of NOAB.
NOAB has warned that if the gazette is not cancelled then the owners and journalists will wage country wide movement against the award.
A part of BFUJ and DUJ leaders have also demanded of the government to immediately cancel the award and form a new wage board in a rally held in front of National Press club. The leaders of BFUJ and DUJ claimed that the in the 9th wage board some facilities enjoyed by the journalists have been snatched away.
NOAB has warned that if the gazette is not cancelled then the owners and journalists will wage country wide movement against the award.