The government will soon begin work on a new wage board to ensure job security and livelihoods for journalists, said Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, the Prime Minister's Advisor on Information and Broadcasting.
"Good journalism cannot be achieved unless we can guarantee the jobs and livelihoods of journalists. The government will start working on this matter very quickly," he said.
He made these remarks in response to journalists' questions during a weekly briefing on the progress of various government ministries held at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room at the Secretariat yesterday (September 1).
When journalists drew attention to the cost of living for media workers, job insecurity, and the complexities surrounding the eighth and ninth wage boards, the information advisor stated,
"If we cannot properly ensure the jobs and livelihoods of journalists, it is not possible to get better journalism. We completely agree with this in principle and assure you that the government will work on this very rapidly."
In response to another question regarding the implementation of the ninth and tenth wage boards for journalists, the advisor said, "Implementation, absolutely... I am not disagreeing with you."
Addressing the pay scale for government employees and inflation, the advisor clarified that the implementation of a new pay scale does not pose a risk of abnormal inflation in the market. He noted that even without a new pay scale for a long period, many officials and employees have already seen their salaries reach close to the proposed scale through regular increments.
Consequently, the apprehension that the money supply in the market will increase across the board and double inflation is unfounded.
At the same time, he announced that by the end of this year, "Family Cards" will be distributed to 4.1 million families in the country to cope with inflationary pressures, directly benefiting 20 million marginalized people.
Syed Abdal Ahmad, Principal Information Officer of the Press Information Department; K. M. Abdul Wadud, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; and Fakhrul Islam, Deputy Principal Information Officer of the PID, were present at the briefing.
