Union Wins

The year in review, from May 2024 to April 2025, was a challenging one for the media and its unions across South Asia. Unions continued to struggle on many fronts to protect journalists’ rights and press freedom and endured to remain relevant and at the vanguard of change in their communities.

Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA)

Three biggest issues for press freedom and media workers in Sri Lanka:

  1. Online attacks/harassment
  2. Threats
  3. Legislation and government controls on human rights and freedom of expression

Greatest concern for media over the past year:

The government’s implementation of unlegislated acts aimed at controlling the media and journalists in the country.

Key campaign or organising strategy undertaken in the past year:

We have partnered with other media and social organizations to defend our rights and freedoms. As a result, we successfully pushed back against the government’s attempts to impose new laws aimed at controlling the media and Journalists.

Duminda Sampath – President

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)

Three biggest issues for press freedom and media workers in Pakistan:

  1. Media sustainability
  2. Wage insecurity
  3. Legislation and government controls on human rights and freedom of expression

Greatest concern for media over the past year:

Continuous deterioration in freedom of expression and illegal termination and shutdown of media houses.

Key campaign or organising strategy undertaken in the past year:

We have launched a campaign against illegal termination, irregular wages, and new laws which curtail freedom of speech and expression. This has resulted in positive outcomes and the government has promised to attach the payments of advertisements to the media house owners with the payment of regular wages to the media workers. Secondly, our appeals in the court against the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) have been accepted for hearing.

Ihtsham-ul-Haq – Secretary Information & Coordinator

Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU) Sri Lanka

Three biggest issues for press freedom and media workers in Sri Lanka:

  1. Wage Insecurity
  2. Professionalism and ethics
  3. Mis/Disinformation

Greatest concern for media over the past year:

Provincial Journalists problems and safety of journalists.

Key campaign or organising strategy undertaken in the past year:

Wage issues for provincial journalists.

Indira Priyadarshini Nawagamuwa – Deputy General Secretary

Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF)

Three biggest issues for press freedom and media workers in Bangladesh:

  1. Media sustainability
  2. Wage insecurity
  3. Legislation and government controls on human rights and freedom of expression

Greatest concern for media over the past year:

Our union’s greatest concerns over the past year include the continued use of restrictive laws like the Cyber Security Act to suppress press freedom, increasing government control over online expression, and persistent wage insecurity that undermines the rights and livelihoods of media workers.

Key campaign or organising strategy undertaken in the past year:

One key strategy our union has undertaken is a campaign to reform the Cyber Security Act, focusing on its impact on press freedom and journalistic work. We have organised legal advocacy, and coordinated media outreach to raise awareness and pressure policymakers.

Md Ahamed Ullah – Focal Person

Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ)

Three biggest issues for press freedom and media workers in Nepal:

  1. Media sustainability
  2. Legislation and government controls on human rights and freedom of expression
  3. Professionalism and ethics

Greatest concern for media over the past year:

Journalist safety.

Key campaign or organising strategy undertaken in the past year:

The Federation of Nepali Journalists continues to fight for justice for journalists in Nepal.

Ashok Kumar Tiwari – Secretary

 

Free Media Movement (FMM) Sri Lanka

Three biggest issues for press freedom and media workers in Sri Lanka:

  1. Media sustainability
  2. Wage insecurity
  3. Legislation and government controls on human rights and freedom of expression

Greatest concern for media over the past year:

Building a coalition with other media and trade unions to work against new laws and regulations such as the OSA and PTA that effect media.

Key campaign or organising strategy undertaken in the past year:

Meeting with the Sri Lankan government under the FMM campaign ‘No Shut-Up Laws’.

Lasantha De Silva – Secretary

Indian Journalists Union (IJU)

Three biggest issues for press freedom and media workers in India:

  1. Online attacks/harassment
  2. Wage insecurity
  3. Legislation and government controls on human rights and freedom of expression

Greatest concern for media over the past year:

Arrests, attacks on journalists and infringement of media freedom.

Key campaign or organising strategy undertaken in the past year:

Online and offline campaigns; sensitising social organisations and free speech groups to put pressure on the government.

Geetartha Pathak – President