FNJ moots insurance for journalists

KATHMANDU, Nov 29: At a time when most of the working journalists are deprived of insurance facilities, Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) is all set to introduce health and accident insurance policies to its members.

A central committee meeting of the FNJ made a decision to this effect on Sunday as per its Journalists´ Welfare Scheme, according to a statement issued by the federation.

FNJ general secretary Poshan KC told Republica the committee has agreed in “principle” to introduce health and accident insurance policies worth Rs 100,000 to each of the federation´s member journalists. He, however, said they were yet to chalk out a detailed insurance plan.

“We are holding talks with the insurance companies. We will soon have a detailed plan,” he said.

The premium for the policies will be paid from interest received from FNJ´s Journalists´ Welfare Fund. The fund currently has Rs 2.4 million in deposits.

FNJ plans to increase two million rupees to the fund every year by deducting Rs 250 from the total of Rs 500 received for each membership. Earlier, FNJ membership fee was Rs 100.

KC said, “FNJ approximately has 8,000 members. We expect to collect Rs two million every year.”

Due to insufficient returns on deposits, the first phase of the insurance policy will be awarded to female journalists. After the fund swells, the policy will be awarded to the remaining journalists.

Currently, only a handful of media organizations are providing health and accident insurance facilities to their employees.

Likewise, FNJ has also decided to provide relief packages to journalists sacked by their employers in violation of the Working Journalists Act.

“We will launch a legal battle against such employers and press them to reinstate such journalists,” KC said. “In the meantime, FNJ will provide 25 percent of their basic salary during his/her unemployment period.”

FNJ will replenish the fund later by asking such journalists to contribute certain amount from their salaries. “The contribution amount from the journalists is yet to be ascertained,” KC said.

FNJ has also decided to draw the attention of the government and all concerned for effective implementation of the Act in a bid to protect professional rights of the working journalists.

On November 24, Minimum Wage Fixation Committee made its annual report public revealing that media owners have been blatantly flouting the Act.

Published on 2010-11-29 03:00:01

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