Kavre, June 15

Minister of Information and Communications Gokul Prasad Banskota, today said there was no government agency for implementing the minimum salary provision envisaged in the Working Journalists’ Act.

Addressing a workshop on the implementation of the act, Minister Baskota stressed on forming a mechanism to implement the act.

“Who is responsible for ensuring minimum salary to journalists? Is it the Press Council Nepal or Labour Court?” he asked.

Baskota, who is also the government spokesperson, claimed that only state-owned media had been strictly abiding by the act. He pledged to set up a mechanism to implement the act. Baskota pointed out the need for coordination and collaboration between the Federation of Nepali Journalists and media outlets.

At the programme, Chair of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Govind Acharya said trade unions had been established in media houses to ensure that journalists got minimum salary.

He also urged journalists to demand appointment letter before starting work in media houses.