The Mass Media Employees (Services Conditions) Bill 2022 has been placed in Parliament, aiming at increasing facilities for journalists and other employees.
Information and Broadcast Minister Hasan Mahmud placed the bill on Monday and it was sent to the parliamentary standing committee for scrutiny. The committee has been asked to submit its report within 60 days.
The Bill provides for recognising journalists in the media industry as employees instead of workers.
Moreover, the Wage Board will be applicable for journalists and employees of all the media outlets, including print and electronic, as per the proposed law.
According to the Bill, the working hours for media employees will be 48 hours, while the casual leave will be for 15 days instead of 10 days, while the earned leave will be 100 days instead of 60 days annually.
Besides, the festival leave will be for 10 days in a year, recreation leave 15 days instead of one month after every three years, and the maternity leave for six months in place of the existing eight weeks.
If a person or an organization violates the provisions of the Bill, s/he will be fined Tk50,000-Tk500,000.
On October 15, 2018, the cabinet cleared the draft “Mass Media Employees Act (Conditions of Service)” at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
As per the proposed law, the government will be able to cancel the licences or registration of the media. The owners of media outlets will also face punishment for violation of its clauses.