FNJ urges media houses to remunerate working journalists and media workers

Kathmandu - Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ)'s Gandaki State chapter and Kaski district chapter have expressed serious concern over the situation wherein working journalists and media workers are being deprived of remuneration and other facilities since long.

Issuing separate press releases on Tuesday, the two chapters have urged the media houses to routinely provide with remuneration, not to shut the operation of media in any pretexts, stop expelling journalists from their regular work and also not to force journalists to stay on non-salaried leave.

In the statement issued by State committee general secretary Ganesh Poudel, media houses were urged to stop relieving journalists from their work in the pretext of COVID-19, denying journalists of their salary and facilities and unilaterally slashing the existing salary scale as well as to fully comply with the Working Journalists Act. Likewise, Kaski chapter chair Deependra Shrestha issued the press release and warned to launch any pressure-creating struggle for the professional safety and respect for working journalists.

The district chapter also urged the working journalists and media workers to institutionally report their problems to FNJ through email or other communication medium. In addition, FNJ has clarified that it would consistently hold dialogue and discuss with the stakeholders as per the need but would not compromise with anybody on the issue of working journalists.