The government has designed a new law titled the ‘Mass Media Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 2022’.
The draft of the proposed law had already been passed in the Cabinet, but it is yet to be placed in Parliament. The government is making preparation to place the Bill in Parliament.
Sources said that the ‘Mass Media Employees (Conditions of Service) Bill, 2022’ may be placed in the upcoming 17th session of the 11th Parliament which will begin on March 28.
Stakeholders and media workers as well are confused over the proposed law. Journalist leaders said that many existing facilities for journalists have been halved in the draft law and if it is passed, it will deprive the media workers of much benefit.
They said that if the draft law is passed, journalists and news workers would no longer be subject to labour laws and they would lose privileges under the labour laws.
Under the new law the journalists of the country will become ‘media workers’ instead of ‘labourers’ and the journalists and media employees may be deprived of the right to form trade unions.
The Cabinet on October 15 in 2018 approved the draft of the proposed law resetting the conditions of service of journalists and media employees and describing them as ‘media workers’ from ‘labourers’.
Besides, many existing facilities and benefits for journalists have been halved in the proposed law during the finalization.
In the proposed law, gratuity is mentioned as 30 days. As per the existing labour law the gratuity is 60 days.
The proposed law mentioned that in case of retrenchment of an employee, one month’s salary has to be paid as compensation. However, the existing labour law asks for four months’ salary as compensation.
The proposed law provides for 15 days of recreation leave instead of one month. It stipulates that the apprenticeship period should be one year instead of six months. If there are additional employees under Section 12 (1), the government should be informed by the owner.
Section 13 of the proposed law states that any employee can be released with a medical certificate for illness. Section 2 (5) mentions the Media Welfare Society and Section 25 (2) refers to the Journalist Welfare Society, but there is no mention of trade unions.
Journalist leaders said that the ‘Mass Media Employees (Conditions of Service) Act’ must be judicious and rational. They called upon the government to consider all logical demands of journalists before finalizing the law.
Leaders of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and leaders of other platforms of journalists said that the facilities given to journalists in the 70’s and 80’s were very low compared to other professionals in the country. At the present economic condition, people of different professions are enjoying many fringe and enhanced benefits and facilities. The original recommendations of the 9th Wage Board ensured two gratuities for journalists in a year, but the Cabinet committee on Wage Board proposed one gratuity.
The recommendation of the Cabinet committee sparked a negative reaction in the journalist community.
BFUJ leaders said if the Bill is passed by Parliament with proposed recommendations curtailing existing facilities, the financial security and social status of journalists would be downgraded.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud at a function of journalists said that correction would be made to the draft law to meet the disagreements of the journalist community on it.
Mentioning that he had had a conversation with the chairman of the Standing Committee on Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on the issue. There is a necessity to make amendments to the draft.
The journalist leaders have demanded the parliamentary committee to recommend the passage of the law by removing the controversial clauses.
BFUJ President Omar Faruque said if the law is passed as proposed, journalists would be deprived of financial security and social status. Several sections of the proposed law are contradictory to the ILO Convention.
He claimed that this law could deprive journalists of the right to form trade union. As a result, they will not be able to realise their demands. Journalists will not get the benefits of labour law.
Omar Faruque further said that after the law is placed in Parliament and when it is sent to the respective Parliamentary Committee for scrutiny, they will inform the parliamentary watchdog in writing to amend the controversial clauses. They will also discuss the matter with the chairman and members of the committee.
He said that the law should not be passed without amending the controversial clauses. The parliamentary committee should place its report after consulting with the stakeholders including the journalists union.