Lok Sabha Question No. 2119 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-01
Subject: Wage Board for Journalists
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RADHESHYAM BISWAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2119

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.01.2018

## WAGE BOARD FOR JOURNALISTS

## 2119. SHRI RADHESHYAM BISWAS:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether the wage Board for journalists, non- journalists and other workers has submitted its report on wage structure;
- (b)if so, the details along with the main recommendation made by the board;
- (c)whether the Government has accepted these recommendations;
- (d)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e)the time by which these recommendations  are likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): The  Majithia  Wage  Board  for  journalists  and  non-journalists newspaper  employees  was  set  up  by  the  Government  in  May  2007 under  the  Working  Journalists  and  Other  Newspaper  Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955, which submitted its report on 31.12.2010.
- (b): The main recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board are as under:
-  The revised pay comprises of variable pay at the rate of 35 percent for employees working in the first four classes of newspaper establishments (first two classes news agencies) and 20 percent for the  bottom  four  classes  of  newspaper  establishments  (bottom  two classes for news agencies).

-    The  variable  pay  should  be  added  in  the  revised  basic  pay  for calculation of all allowances.
-   The rate of neutralization of DA should be 100 percent of basic pay for calculation of all allowances.
-    The annual rate of increment should be between 2% and 4 % of the revised basic pay.
-     The House rent allowance should be at the rate of 30%, 20% and 10  %  and  accordingly  areas/cities  should  be  classified  into  three categories i.e.  X, Y, and Z for this purpose.
-      The  transport  allowance  should  be  20%,  10%  and  5%  in  the respective areas defined as Area X,Y and Z.
-   Night Shift allowance should range between Rs. 100 and Rs. 50 for different classes of establishments.
- (c) & (d): The  Central  Government  notified  the  recommendations  of the Majithia Wage Boards in the Official Gazette on 11.11.2011 under section 12 of the said Act, except those relating to enhancement of age  of  retirement,  introduction  of  pension  scheme,  paternity  leave, policy  for  promotion,  etc.,  subject  to  the  decision  of  the  Hon'ble Supreme Court in the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 246 of 2011. The Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order dated 7th February, 2014 have upheld the said  notification.  This  was  intimated  to  the  State  Governments  and Union Territory Administrations on 14th March, 2014 as the implementation of the recommendations of the Wage Boards lies with them under Section 17 and 17B of the said Act. Further, the Hon'ble Supreme  Court,  vide  its  Judgment  dated  19.6.2017,  in  Contempt Petition (Civil) No. 411 of 2014 in W.P.(C) No.246 of 2011  has clarified the issues concerning applicability of the Wage Board recommendations. This has also been intimated to the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations on 20th July, 2017.
- (e): As reported by various States/UTs, 341 newspaper establishments  have  implemented  the  said  recommendations  fully. Moreover, the Central Government is continuing to impress upon the States/ UTs to ensure implementation of the recommendations of the Wage Boards in all the remaining newspaper establishments.

*******