Kathmandu, September 8

The Federation of Nepali Journalists today served a one-week ultimatum to the Department of Information and Broadcasting to make it mandatory for all media houses to implement provision of minimum salary determined by the government for working journalists.

A delegation led by FNJ Acting President Dilip Thapa Magar submitted a letter of attention to DoIB Director General Krishna Murari Neupane at the latter’s office in Kathmandu and issued the ultimatum in making the non-compliant media houses to follow the provision.

FNJ also urged the DoIB to publicise names of media houses that have failed to provide updated details of working journalists employed by them, within a week.

FNJ has warned that it will launch stern protest against the government if the DoIB failed to address its demands. The umbrella organisation of journalists alleged that both the government and media houses had been reluctant in fulfilling their responsibilities in regards to implementation of Working Journalists’ Act and minimum salary provision, for working journalists. FNJ has been urging the government to implement the act, and the media houses to respect the work of journalists time and again. It observed that working journalists were entitled to appointment letter, salary and facilities as stipulated by the act.

According to FNJ, some journalists have been facing problems to obtain press accreditation card as concerned media houses didn’t submit details such as designation of the journalists and their monthly salary structure to the DoIB.