IMPHAL, February 16: The first sitting of the state level tripartite monitoring committee for ensuring and monitoring the speedy implementation of the recommendations of the Mazithiya wages boards in the State of Manipur was held on January 28 this year.
The State Government was represented by Director of Information and Public Relations W Rajen Singh and Deputy Labour Commissioner E Tomba Singh.
Newspaper establishment representatives include managing director of Sangai Express Nishikant Sapam, managing director of Poknapham Goutam Sharma and managing director of Hueiyel Lanpao S Niladhaja Singh.
All Manipur Working Journalists`™ Union president W Shyamjai Singh represented for the journalist and non-journalist employees.
The agenda items of the sitting include: to devise procedure of sitting of committee, to formulate action plan to review the implementation of the recommendations of the Mazithiya Wages Board for working journalist and non-working journalists in newspaper establishments and news agencies in the State of Manipur.
The principal secretary (Labour & Employment), Govt of Manipur in the chair welcomed all the members present and briefed them about the agenda-items of the sitting for discussion to devise procedure of sitting of the committee and to formulate action plan to review the implementation of the recommendations of the Mazithiya Wages Board for working journalists and non-working journalists in Newspaper establishments and news agencies in the state of Manipur.
He added that according to the judgement and order dated February 7, 2014 passed by the Supreme Court of India in the W.P. (C) No 246 of 2011 the said recommendations are valid in law and the wages as revised shall be payable from November 11 of 2011 when the Government of India notified the said recommendations.
All the arrears of wages up to March, 2014 shall be paid to the eligible persons in four equal instalments within a period of one year from February 7, 2014 and payment of wages and allowances of eligible persons in the revised scales shall be continued from April, 2014 onwards to the newspaper employees.
The members from the newspaper management representatives suggested that the number of members from the newspaper management representatives be increased to cover all the prominent newspaper establishments including ISTV and Impact TV in the State of Manipur.
After discussion of the suggestion of members from the newspaper management representatives, the procedure of meeting of the Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers` Advisory Committee, the class of Newspaper Establishments/News Agencies and the revised scales of wages and allowances of the Working Journalists and Non-Working Journalists applicable to the different classes of Newspaper Establishments/News Agencies placed before the meeting for reference all the members present unanimously adopted the following resolutions:
The State Government of Manipur will be moved by the Deputy Labour Commissioner for reconstitution of the Committee to include the Managing Directors/Proprietors of AZA (Ukhrul/Thangkhul), Di-Cham (Tamenglong), Hornbill (Senapati), ISTV and Impact TV, if it is possible.
It was resolved that the State Level Tripartite Monitoring Committee shall sit at such place and at such time as may be decided by the Chairman of the Committee and it shall sit at least once in six months.
Resolutions were also taken regarding the notice of sitting and list of business.
The relevant information on the Gross Revenue of the Newspaper Establishments/News Agencies for the Accounting Years, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 and the number of Working Journalists and Non-Working Journalists employed in the Newspaper Establishments/ News Agencies during 2011, 2012 ,2013 and 2014 and the rates of wages of the said newspaper employees will be collected by Office of the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Manipur, who is enforcing the provisions of the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees ( Conditions of Service ) & Misc. Provisions Act,1955, to ascertain the class of the Newspaper Establishments/ New Agencies and the implementation of the revised Scales of Wages and Allowances of the Working Journalists and Non-Working Journalists in the State of Manipur.
The information collected will be placed before the next meeting of the Committee.