Mass Media bill goes back to JS committee for 2nd time

Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Information and Broadcast Ministry on Tuesday got another 60 days to examine and amend the much-debated Mass Media Employees (Services Conditions) Bill 2022, reports UNB.
Chairman of the Committee Hasanul Huq Inu sought the time extension in Parliament and the House unanimously approved the proposal.
Earlier on June 06, the same parliamentary committee was given 60 days to examine the Bill and report back to the House.
On March 28 of this year, Information and Broadcast Minister Hasan Mahmud placed the Bill and it was sent to the parliamentary standing committee for scrutiny of the proposed law.
According to a source, the Standing Committee did not sit for a meeting until now.
Earlier on June 16, Inu told media that the parliamentary body will sit with different stakeholders before finalising the "Mass Media Employees (Services Conditions) Bill."
Various journalists organisations and owners association, Transparency International Bangladesh have seriously opposed various sections of the proposed law. The Editors' Council (Sampadak Parishad) has said the space for independent media will shrink further if the proposed bill is passed by parliament.
The wages and benefits of journalists, employees and press workers, artists of broadcast, online, and print media outlets would be fixed under the proposed law.
As per the bill, journalists will be regarded as media professionals, not as workers.
The wage board will be applicable for journalists and employees of all the media outlets, including print and electronic, as per the Bill.
According to the Bill, the minimum working hours for media employees will be 48 hours in a week, while the casual leave will be 15 days instead of 10 days and the earned leave will be 100 days instead of 60 days annually.