Wage Boards propose hefty hike for scribes

 The revised basic pay has been computed after merging the existing basic pay, the dearness allowance and the 30 per cent interim relief already granted besides 35 per cent variable pay, said Chairman of the Boards Justice G R Majithia.

The recommendations have been proposed to be implemented from January 8, 2008.
Taking into account the concept of grade pay introduced in the Sixth Pay Commission, the Boards introduced variable pay  for all employees working in newspaper establishments and news agencies.

Consequently, the Boards proposed a variable pay of 35 per cent. This will be implemented from July 1, 2010.

“As per the recommendation, current basic pay would rise by 2.5 to 3 times,” a wage board official said.

“We have also proposed establishment of a permanent tribunal to redress grievances between employers and employees,” Majithia said after presenting the recommendations to Labour and Employment Secretary Prabhat Chaturvedi.

The recommendations would be examined by the Ministry before they are tabled before the Union Cabinet for approval, Chaturvedi said.

The Boards have also recommended that dearness allowance shall be paid bi-annually with effect from July 1 and January 1 every year and the rate of neutralisation for determining DA would be 100 per cent of the basic pay for all group of employees.

The Boards have also recommended revision of other allowances such as house rent allowance, transport allowance, nigh shift allowance etc, the chairman said.

It has been recommended that house rent allowance shall be paid at the rate of 40 per cent, 30 per cent and 20 per cent of the basic pay to employees posted in areas defined as area X, Y and Z respectively.

Other benefits

Similarly, transport allowance at the rate of 20 per cent, 10 per cent and five per cent shall be paid by newspaper establishments to its employees posted in respective areas defined as X, Y and Z respectively. 

Employees working in newspaper establishment of classes I and II and classes III and IV shall be paid medical allowance at the rate of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 per month per employee respectively.

The revised basic pay would however range from Rs 9,000 to Rs 17,500 for non-journalists and from Rs 13,000 to Rs 25,000 for working journalists in the top establishment having gross revenues of more than Rs 1,000 crore.

As far as social security measures are concerned possibility of granting paternity leave to male employees, retirement age of 65 years, and exploring pension scheme possibilities have been suggested, the statement said.