Wage boards for mediapersons to be constituted soon:Minister

New Delhi, Apr 30 (UNI) The long overdue wage boards for journalists and non-journalist employees of newspapers and news agencies are likely to be constituted soon, Labour and Employment Minister Oscar Fernandes indicated in his May Day message today.

''The government has approved the constitution of two Wage Boards -- one for the Working Journalists and another for Non-Journalists newspaper employees,'' Mr Fernandes said, greeting the workers in his message on the occasion of May Day -- International Labour Day, symbolising the unity and solidarity of the working class.

Last week, Mr Fernandes had said the Wage Boards would be constituted ''in a few days without any further delay''.

This had been approved in accordance with Section 9 and 13(C) of The Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955, he added.

The last wage boards, headed by Mr Rajkumar Manisana Singh, retired Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, were constituted in September 1994.

The Manisana Wage Boards for journalists and non-journalists submitted their final recommendations on July 25, 2000. These were subsequently notified in the Official Gazette on December 5 and December 15, 2000, respectively.

UNI