Journalists’ Unions File Petition in SC Against Media Companies, Allege Using Lockdown for Lay-offs, Salary Cuts

The National Alliance of Journalists, Delhi Union of Journalists, and the Brihan Mumbai Union of Journalists have jointly filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at the Supreme Court, following reports of huge layoffs and salary cuts in several leading media houses during the ongoing countrywide lockdown. The PIL has been filed against all such media organisations who had laid off employees or forced them to take remuneration kickbacks.

The petition seeks immediate suspension of all such termination notices, wage reductions, resignation received pursuant to oral or written requests from the employers and directions to go on unpaid leave which took place after the announcement of the lockdown, Live Law reported.

They have also accused the employers of newspapers and media sector of meting out inhuman treatment to their employees, adding that this is happening, “despite the fact that the Government of India has specifically permitted print and electronic media establishments to continue functioning, the appeals made by the Prime Minister of India and advisories issued by the Government of India to not terminate services or reduce wages of employees, several employers/ establishments in the newspaper/ media sector have taken unilateral knee-jerk decisions to terminate services, reduce wages and also send employees on forced indefinite unpaid leave.”

Also read: Should Big Media and Other Elite Firms Look Beyond Profit During Lockdown?

Alleging that such lay offs violates the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the petition added, “In the backdrop of the lockdown, the media industry has affected job losses and wage cuts with impunity. Media houses have summarily shut down, in violation of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. Despite the advisories mentioned above and legal provisions that disallow retrenchments, terminations or even suspension and closure of publications without due process, media companies have gone ahead with these measures, unmindful of the fact that in a lockdown of such an incredible magnitude people can barely move out, leave alone go job-hunting.”

According to Live Law, the petition enlists nine instances where such action has been seen since March 15, 2020. It also seeks directions to the Centre, the Indian Newspaper Society, and the News Broadcasters Association to ensure that no such arbitrary action is taken by misusing the lockdown.

In the past few weeks, top English newspapers, including the Indian Express and the Hindustan Times, have reportedly cut the salaries of their staff, while the Times of India, a media giant, has laid off employees. The digital media outlet Quint has sent at least 45 employees on indefinite unpaid leave. The TV channel News Nation has laid off its entire English digital team.