Sherry assures resolution of newspapers employees’ problems

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

ISLAMABAD : Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ms. Sherry Rehman Thursday assured newspapers’ employees that government would utilize all its energies to address their problems and ensure provision of their rights. Addressing a seminar, she said PPP government is peoples’ government and it would review country’s existing labour laws to bring them in conformity with international standards.
The Seminar entitled “Destiny of Newspaper Employees in Democratic Government: When will change come,” was organized here by All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (APNEC) in connection with International Labour Day.
“Pakistan Peoples Party had always raised voice for workers rights and welfare and now present coalition regime would leave no stone unturned in ensuring their rights,” she added.
She said a summary on Special Fund for Journalist who lose their lives in line of duty has already been sent to the cabinet for approval.
The minister said it is PPP led coalition government which has fulfilled the promise of repealing black PEMRA laws through parliament, adding that “We want a strong parliament, an independent judiciary and a prosperous Pakistan.”
Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman said the previous governments have left an acute financial, flour and electricity crisis behind, but present government has the will and commitment to bring the country out of it.
She said the performance of previous government can be gauged that it had not added even a single Megawatt electricity to the national grid which is regrettable.
Sherry Rehman said strengthening of democracy was a key commitment in the political struggle of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and added the coalition government has inherited challenges but it has the potential to put the country on the path of progress and prosperity as it did in the past.
The Minister said all such laws, regulations and systems would be abolished which support or provide opportunity of exploitation of the work force.
She said while the government is taking all possible steps for the welfare of workers, it also expects from them to use all their energies for the country’s development.
She also paid homage to the struggle of the martyrs of Chicago, who refused to submit before the forces of oppression, and gallantly stood for their rights of better working and living conditions.
In his address, Senator Babar Awan said PPP government has always given priority to resolvING grievances of media workers.
He also offered his services as lawyer to APNEC and said he will fight for their rights till their achievements.
Supporting APNEC stand on implementation of Wage Board Award, Senator Liaquat Ali Bangulzai said he had asked newspapers owners to give right to their employees.
Bangulzai said he has also asked the Housing Minister to earmark special quota for newspaper workers in the newly announced housing scheme of the government under which one million housing unitS would be constructed throughout the country.
Earlier, in their addresses leaders of APNEC and Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) urged the government to ensure immediate implementation of the 7th Wage Award.
They said the 7th Wage Award has not been implemented since 2001 and also demanded constitution of the 8th Wage Board, under Newspapers Employees Condition of Service Act, 1973.
This act was the greatest gift of former premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to the newspapers employees and passed unanimously by the then Parliament.
They said National Assembly, Senate and all the four provincial Assemblies unanimously passed the resolution for the immediate implementation of the 7th Wage Award, which has not been implemented since 2001.
Those who spoke on the occasion included Chairman APNEC, Shafiuddin Ashraf, PFUJ President, Huma Ali, Secretary General, APNEC Dr Imran Farooq, senior FEC member, Cr.Shamsi and Chairman Local APNEC, Ikram Bokhari.