Journalists stage demonstration seeking interim relief

Panaji, Oct 2 (UNI) Working journalists today staged a 'dharna' here, urging the newly constituted Wage Board for journalists and non-journalists, headed by retired justice Kurup, to announce 60 per cent basic wage as interim relief with immediate effect.

In the 'dharna', organised by the Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ), the mediapersons raised slogans at the Azad Maidan and sought interim relief against pending wage board recommendations.

It takes more than three years for the wage board to complete its sittings and arrive at recommendations, after holding its sittings all over the country, the journalists observed.

The mediapersons also expressed their concern over the recruitment of journalists on ''contract basis'' bypassing the Working Journalists (miscellanious provisions) Act that ensures their job security.

Earlier, in a meeting held here recently, the working committee of the Indian Federation of Working Journalists had sought intervention of the Supreme Court against recruitment of journalists on the contract basis.

Several other national unions have been pleading against the contract labour system of employment, which goes against the very concept of the Wage Board Act, as it involves ''hire and fire'' business.

UNI