According to the status report filed in the Supreme Court of India by Shri Manoj Parida, the Chief Secretary to the Government of Puducherry all newspapers of the Union Territory have implemented the Majithia Award. There are eight newspaper establishments functioning in the Union Territory of Puducherry out of them, six have engaged 170 employees of various categories and they have implemented the recommendations of the Majithia Award. In the remaining two establishments the services of the employees of Villupuram Branch of Tamilnadu are utilised and hence do not fall within the jurisdiction of Puducherry.
The establishments, which have implemented the Award are ‘Daily Thanthi’, employing 28 persons, ‘Maalai Malar’ (7), The Hindu (27), The Times of India (5), Dina Malar (46) and Dina Karan (57). The employees of Dina Mani and Indian Express are from the Villupuram Branch of Tamilnadu and their number is not known but the establishments have informed to have implemented the Award.
The ‘Daily Thanthi’ has paid the arrears in two instalments amounting to Rs. 1,12,98,380/-. The Hindu has paid Rs. 33,10,690/- in four instalments. Similarly, the Times of India has paid Rs. 29,69,412/-, Dina Malar Rs. 15,05,325/-, Malia Malar Rs. 6,84,183/- in four instalments. Only one newspaper Dina Karan has paid all arrears to its employees in one instalment amounting to Rs. 23,44,765/-.
The report of the Chief Secretary further says that all establishments of the Union Territory are paying revised wages as per the Majithia Award from April 2014. The report is based on the findings of the Monitoring Committee constituted by the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, which consisted of the Commissioner of Labour as the Chairman, Director of Information as the Government’s Representative and Labour Officer (Enforcement) as the Member Secretary and two representatives from the Employers and two from the Employees.
Parmanand Pandey
Secretary General
IFWJ
