The government today approved 30 per cent interim relief to journalists and non-journalists employees of the newspaper industry.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this morning.
"Cabinet has approved 30 per cent interim relief to the journalists and non-journalists employees of newspaper industry under the Wage Boards," Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priyaranjan Dasmunshi told reporters here.
The Wage Boards for journalists and non-journalists recommended 30 per cent interim relief on June 28. The arrears would be given from January, 2008, he said.
"There has been a tradition to increase the amount of interim relief by the government over and above the recommendation of the Wage Board but it was not done this time," said the leaders of Confederation of Newspaper and News Agency Employees' Organisations, the apex body of Federations in newspaper industry.
Criticising the decision, Confederation general secretary M S Yadav said, "Journalists across the country had pinned their hopes on the government and believed that it would provide at least 40 per cent relief to them but nothing of this sort happened. We are now left with no other option but to go in for agitation."
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He added Confederation leaders would meet Prime Minister, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad with their demand to review the matter.
If this genuine demand of the journalists is not met, Confederation would go for nationwide agitation.
Some other Confederation leaders, including Suresh Akhauri, President, IJU, N K Trikha, leader NUJI, K L Kapoor, leader AINEF and Rajesh Verma, Secretary General UNI Worker's Union also criticised the decision.