Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai has said the minimum wage for journalists determined by the government would come into effect from July 16. 

He made it clear that the government would not back out from the decision made by the Council of Ministers on May 5 fixing the minimum wage of journalists working in media houses at Rs 19,500 and employees and workers at Rs 14,400; and of journalists working at other media institutions at Rs 14,100 and employees and workers at Rs 12,500. 

A meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 5 had decided to implement the minimum wage for journalists and employees and workers at media institutions to be effective from July 16 based on the recommendation made by the Minimum Wage Fixation Committee nearly one year back. 

The Information and Communications Minister said this while speaking in a programme of interaction entitled 'Implementation of the Minimum Wage in the Media' organised by the Minimum Wage Fixation Committee here on Monday.

"The minimum wages of the journalists would be enforced and discussions are on regarding the 11-point demands put forth by the media operators for that purpose as well," Minister Rai, who is also the government spokesman, said. 

He asserted that the decision regarding the minimum wage of media persons made by the Council of Ministers was not to close down the media with small investment but for the job security of all journalists and media persons. 

The Minister urged the media operators, journalists and all those concerned to extent cooperation in implementing the minimum wage rather than involving in making unnecessary comments. 

President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Dr Mahendra Bista stressed on strict implementation of the minimum wage in all media institutions even if it means the government having to increase the services and facilities provided to the media. 

"The physical safety and financial security of the journalists, who have played a role in institutionalising the agendas of every change and giving voice to the voiceless," he said, adding that the FNJ would not hesitate to launch a struggle in case the minimum wage decision was not implemented in letter and spirit. 

FNJ former president Dr Suresh Acharya said the implementation of the minimum wage would not be reliable unless it is published in the Nepal Gazette. He also urged the Minimum Wage Fixation Committee to also monitor the implementation of the decision on minimum wage. 

Journalist Prateek Pradhan opined that it would be difficult for the media with small investment to implement the minimum wage. 

Presenting a working paper on the occasion, advocate Agni Prasad Thapaliya said implementing the minimum wage would not be a big problem if only the journalists and the media institutions who are well-informed, conscious and professional think on this matter positively and with patience. 

It has been two decades since the Minimum Wage Fixation Committee instituted as per the Working Journalist Act, 2051 (First Amendment 2064) started its work in connection to ensuring job security and professional development of the working journalists, workers and employees working in media institutions. RSS