Windfall ahead for journos as wage structure rationalised

The statutory wage boards for working journalists, non-journalists and other employees of newspapers and news agencies have recommended a 2.5-3 times hike in basic pay with retrospective effect from 8 January 2008.

''The idea was to give fair wages to employees even in the lowest case. We wanted to bring the pay scales closer to the Sixth Pay Commission levels enjoyed by government employees,'' said chairman of the wage boards, Justice GR Majithia.

''We have also proposed establishment of a permanent tribunal to redress grievances between employers and employees,'' Justice Majithia said after presenting the recommendations to labour and employment secretary Prabhat Chaturvedi.

He added that the recommendations would be sent to the cabinet at the earliest, after which it would go to Parliament in its budget session for the final approval.

In their recommendations submitted to the government on Friday, the boards also fixed the retirement age at 65.

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 Justice Majithia.