Pakistani Media Channels Continue to Exploit Workers
The employees of Hum News were called to work shifts despite some 10 workers contracted coronavirus
Pakistani media has been infamous for exploiting workers for a long and now, many of them are being neglected even from their basic right of health let alone getting paid salaries.
Despite several journalists of Public News staged a protest, their salaries are still pending for many months, while the staffers at Hum News are forced to work despite contracting coronavirus.
These issues have been raised by journalist Adeel Raja who works at a private Pakistani TV channel and known for his candid comments.
He revealed some shocking inside information through tweets.
Media raises voice for everyone, no one speaks about media.. Workers in @PublicNews_Com are without salaries for months while Jabbar Seth and Dr. Asghar enjoy lavish lives.. Someone in this govermnet must take notice and get them their salaries.
— Adeel Raja (@adeelraja) March 18, 2021
Public News is one of the new TV channels in Pakistan but it claims to be engulfed by economic problems to such an extent that workers are owed salaries ranging from 4 to 12 months.
Adeel Raja, while talking to News360, said the situation worsened when the employees of Public News went on strike a few days ago and the management had to repeat telecast an episode of Halat-e-Hazra.
He added that the plethora of commercials aired on the channel does not depict the claim that organization was not earning and facing a financial crunch.
Correction: Dr. Asghar is Executive Director of Public News. Owners are Jabbar and his son Jawad. https://t.co/cBOWJgBaXd
— Adeel Raja (@adeelraja) March 19, 2021
However, two senior journalists defended Dr Asghar and instead labeled him as the one who helped them retrieve salaries.
Maligning Dr Asghar is a despicable act, it shows malafide and ignoble intentions, he is our advocate and is doing this on personal cost. https://t.co/lbnWGD5fOM
— Fawad Khurshid (@fawadkhurshid) March 19, 2021
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Senior anchor-journalist Arshad Sharif also jumped into the fray and regretted that senior journalists should raise the issue of salaries instead of supporting those involved in exploitation.
Surprise! Media professionals defensing some Dr Asghar Haider who is management’s representative and part of the exploitation. Hope they raise voice for workers rather than defending their “friend” as a human being who is part of an organization exploiting journalists. https://t.co/fVJi0ENJXd
— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) March 19, 2021
According to sources, Public News has been upgraded from second tier to third under commercials but nothing has been confirmed so far. However, the Ministry of Information has not denied it too.
Meanwhile, the issue of salaries has surfaced at a time when the government has subject rendering advertisements only to media outlets that pay salaries on time.
Recently, senior journalist Rauf Klasra has bid farewell to Public News without specifying the reason which the sections in media believe to be of non-payment of salaries.
On the other hand, the situation in Hum News is slightly different from Public News, where the staff get paid but they are forced to work even if after contracting coronavirus.
While talking to New360, an employee of Hum News, who requested anonymity to avert repercussions, revealed that despite 10 positive cases, Hum News management remained ignorant of taking any precautionary measures to prevent or mitigate coronavirus spread.
However, the management of the channel denied all allegations.
