Stalemate over 6th Wage Board Award to be resolved soon
CA tells SSKOP leaders
Bss, Dhaka
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday assured the Sangbadik-Sramik-Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SSKOP) leaders of resolving the stalemate over the 6th Wage Board Award for journalists and employees in the newspaper industry."We are looking into the matter with due importance ... Inshallah, we will be able to resolve it," the chief adviser said when an 11-member SSKOP delegation called on him at his office. Three SSKOP co-conveners Mozammel Haq, Monzurul Ahsan Bulbul and Fazle Imam led the delegation. Earlier, the SSKOP leaders in a written statement said that they are being deprived of increased salaries and allowances due to non-implementation of the 6th Wage Board Award in the last 12 years. They said the 5th Wage Board Award was announced in 1996, but within this period recommendations of two pay commissions were implemented for the government officers and employees. Although the sixth wage board was formed in 2005, the wage board award is yet to be announced, they added. However, journalists, employees and workers are being provided with 40 percent DA (dearness allowances), which was recommended by the 6th Wage Board, said the leaders. They demanded that the government take necessary steps to announce the 6th Wage Board Award immediately in view of the price spiral of essentials, and for the development of the newspaper industry. They also called for formulation of a policy for the newspaper industry. The SSKOP leaders also said the press is enjoying full freedom under the present government and playing its due role in upholding the government's anti-corruption drive. In reply, the chief adviser said the present caretaker government believes in freedom of the press. He called upon the journalists to pursue objective and responsible journalism for the greater interest of the nation. Lauding the role of the media, he said it is playing a pivotal role in establishing link between the government and the people. Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein, who was also present at the meeting, said a three-member committee comprising information secretary, law secretary and finance secretary has been formed to examine the legal aspects of the 6th Wage Board. Syed Fahim Munaim, press secretary to the chief adviser, and Kazi M Aminul Islam, secretary to the chief adviser's office, were also present.
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