The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has again started taking the opinions of various journalist organizations and stakeholders on the draft of the Media Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 2021.
On Sunday, May 12, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting started taking opinions in the review meeting held in the meeting room of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with various journalist organizations and other related stakeholders. The meeting was presided over by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat.
In the meeting, the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting said that the Media Workers Act will ensure all kinds of protection that journalists deserve under the Labor Act. It will be examined whether the proposed law covers 100% of the benefits that media workers get under the Labor Act. If there is any deviation, that place will be identified and action will be taken. The proposed Media Workers Act will not alter or detract from the protections enjoyed by media workers under the Labor Act.
He further added that it is very important to ensure the welfare of media workers to create a good environment for journalism and media. For this, the Media Workers Act is being reviewed through an inclusive process.
The State Minister also expressed optimism that the Media Workers Act will go towards a beautiful conclusion based on the cooperation and opinions of all stakeholders. The state minister called upon journalists’ organizations and other stakeholders to give their written opinion on the draft law on media workers.
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Md. Humayun Kabir Khondokar, Additional Secretary Dr. Mohammad Altaf Ul Alam, Joint Secretary Md. Asaduzzaman, Vice President of Private Television Owners Association (ATCO) Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Former President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, President of Editors Guild Mozammel Babu, Member of Jatiya Press Club Farid Hossain, General Secretary of Dhaka Journalists Union Aktar Hossain, Online News Portal Association President of Bangladesh (ONAB) Mollah Amjad Hossain, President of Dhaka Reporters Unity Syed Shukur Ali Shubo, President of Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy Ekramul Haque Sayem, President of Economic Reporters Forum Md. Refayet Ullah Mirdha, President of Energy Reporters Forum Md. Shamim Jahangir, Secretary General of Bangladesh Newspaper Employees Federation Md. Khairul Islam, President of Bangladesh Regional Newspaper Council Jahangir Hossain Manju, General Secretary of Bangladesh Climate Change Journalist Forum Motahar Hossain, President of National Newspaper Council Md. Noor Hakim, President of Justice for Journalists MdA. Kamrul Islam and others were present in the meeting.
