Govt to decide on interim relief for journalists- Fernandes

New Delhi, Nov 13 (UNI) The government will talk to the chairman of the Wage Boards for Working Journalists and Non-Journalist Employees of Newspapers and News Agencies to decide on the interim relief, Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes said here today.

In an interaction with scribes at the Economic Editors' Conference, the Labour Minister was however non-committal on the time framework saying that it would take some time for the Chairman to tour some centers to talk to the employees and employers and decide on the amount.

''I have met the chairman Justice K Narayana Kurup twice to tell him that the Newspaper Employees Organisations are demanding the interim relief. He has also met me here in the Capital. We will hold a meeting soon and decide the amount in consultation with him,'' Mr Fernandes said.

The wage boards were set up on May 29, 2007. The Newspaper Employees Union have demanded 60 per cent of the basic pay as interim relief.

UNI