New Delhi : It is a matter of huge concern and unease that many media houses have started large scale retrenchment of employees despite the unambiguous announcement of the Prime Minister that no employee would be eased out during the lockdown period. Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) has condemned these inhuman and exploitative steps of the media houses.
It has come to notice that even the big media house like the Bennet Coleman and Company have illegally and arbitrarily sacked the entire editorial staff of its Sunday Magazine. Another prestigious news mag ‘Outlook’ has completely pulled down the shutters of its print publication. An audiovisual media house the News Nation has terminated more than a dozen digital employees. Similar disturbing reports are coming from many other media houses where employees are being thrown out under the cover of the crisis caused by COVID-19.
The IFWJ president BV Mallikarjunaih and the Vice-President Hemant Tiwari have called upon the Government of India and other state governments to immediately swing into action to stop the inhuman, insensitive, illegal and arbitrary dismissal of the employees. It may be noted here that these media houses have profited and enriched themselves due to the dedicated works of the employees but in the period of the crisis, the employers are being left in the lurch.
The IFWJ has also drawn the attention of the government towards the notoriety of many media houses, which instead of paying the legitimate dues and wages of the employees have resorted to anti-labour malpractice of illegal wage cuts without consulting and getting the consent of employees. Such unwarranted dismissals and victimisation of the employees must be stopped forthwith. The IFWJ has demanded the media houses not to cause the double jeopardy to employees as they have already been undergoing the financial stress and strain in the lockdown period.
Parmanand Pandey
Secretary-General: IFWJ
