Press Statement

India: NUJ-I expresses concern on closure of media houses and retrenchment of journalists

26 May, 2020

The National Union of Journalists (India) has sought immediate intervention of the Government of India to put a stop to the ongoing large-scale retrenchment of working journalists and other coercive measures of the media houses in the under the belt of COVID19 pandemic.

The NUJ(I) President Ras Bihari said that several managements of print, electronic, web and other media across the country are resorting to large scale retrenchment and cut in the wages of working journalists with scant regard for various labour laws. It is unfortunate that the media houses are now working against the interest of the journalists who are life and spirit of all types of media. Instead of rewarding them some media houses chose to kill the messengers.  Journalists of all media are playing a great role in fighting the dreaded COVID 19 pandemic by carrying vital information to the people and giving feedback to the government to take timely and appropriate decisions to prevent spread of the pandemic and to alienate the suffering of the people.

The Media houses besides retrenching many journalists are forcing some others to go on leave without pay and sabbatical leave, citing loss of advertisement revenue from the government and corporate business and industrial houses. Many media managements are arbitrarily imposing cut in the wages without following due process of law.

The NUJ(I) urges to the central and state governments should take immediate action on the violation of labor laws in the media institutions so that no media worker will lose its job in this difficult time.

Written By

National Union of Journalists (India) National Union of Journalists (India)

7, Jantar Mantar Road, 2nd Floor
New Delhi 110001 , India
Telephone: +91 1123368610

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