High Court: Why cabinet recommendations on 9th wage board not illegal

The High Court today issued a rule asking the information and labour secretaries why the three cabinet recommendations on the 9th wage board gazette would not be illegal.

The rule also asked the two respondents to explain why electronic media workers would not be directed to be included in the next wage boards, including the 9th wage board.

The three recommendations made by the cabinet said news media workers would pay income tax, receive one month's gratuity and the 9th wage board would be implemented in phases.

The High Court bench comprising Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Khondaker Diliruzzaman issued the rule after the preliminary hearing of a writ.

Chittagong Journalist Union General Secretary Hasan Ferdous filed the writ on November 7, claiming the cabinet's recommendations clashed with other decisions in the gazette. 

Lawyers Tirtha Salil Pal and Nurul Karim stood for the writ.

Tirtha Salil Pal said, "The 12th chapter of the ninth wage board gazette contains the three cabinet recommendations. One of the recommendations is that media workers would get one month's gratuity. However, the gazette says media workers will get two gratuities. So, this recommendation clashes with what the gazette says."  

"The labour law says electronic media is also part of mass media. That is why the writ seeks a directive to include electronic media workers in the wage board."

The respondents were asked to respond to the High Court rule within four weeks.

The Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh filed a writ petition with the High Court on August 5, challenging the legality of the recommendation process of finalising new salary structures in the 9th wage board award 2018.

On September 12, the government issued the 9th wage board gazette which said the new wage board would be effective from the date of notification.