Mass media bill placed in parliament
The proposed law was sent to the parliamentary body for scrutiny within 60 days
The Mass Media Employees (Services and Conditions) Bill 2022 was placed in parliament aimed at increasing job facilities for journalists and other employees in media outlets.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud placed the bill on Monday.
Later, the proposed law was sent to the parliamentary standing committee of the respective ministry for scrutiny.
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The committee was asked to submit its report to the parliament within 60 days.
Journalists will be considered media professionals instead of workers, according to the bill.
As per the proposed law, a wage board for journalists will be formed every five years. It will fix salaries and benefits for journalists and employees of all the media outlets, including print, electronic media and registered online portals, if necessary.
According to the bill, the working hours for media employees will be 48 hours a week, while the casual leave will be for 15 days and the earned leave will be 100 days instead of 60 days annually.
Besides, the festival leave will be 10 days in a year, recreation leave of 15 days instead of one month after every three years, and maternity leaves for six months in place of the existing eight weeks.
If anyone or an organisation violates the provisions of the bill, they will be fined Tk50,000-Tk500,000 lakh.
On 15 October 2018, the cabinet cleared the draft "Mass Media Employees Act (Service and Conditions)" at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The owners of media outlets will face punishment for violation of the proposed law. The government will also be able to cancel the licenses or registration of the media outlet.
