8th wage board soon if journos want : Azad

19 August 2011, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The government will be able to form the eighth wage board 'very soon' if journalists are agreed to receive it without amending the respective law, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad told parliament on Thursday. “It would take at least six to eight months if we take initiative to amend the existing law to form the eighth wage board for journalists,” said the information minister replying to the lawmakers' queries. He also said the original law was formulated in 1974. But the past BNP-Jamaat government had changed the law and included journalism profession in the labour category. “It is necessary to bring amendment to the law for formation of the eighth wage board,” said the minister. He also told the House that the government has already started discussion with journalist leaders and owners on formation of the eighth wage board following the directive of the prime minister. “And if they [journalists and owners] give consent that they will accept the eighth wage board without amending the existing law, then we would be able to form it very soon,” said Azad.