The report titled "Report of the subcommittee on retrenchment of journalists during Covid-19" was prepared by a sub-committee constituted by the Press Council of India on 10 December, 2020 to assess the impact of retrenchment in media houses on journalists.
Published Sep 05, 2024 | 4:26 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 05, 2024 | 10:49 PM
Indian newspapers. (iStock)
A majority of journalists who lost their jobs were lost to retrenchment following the Covid-19 pandemic slipped into depression in the aftermath of the decision, according to a report by the Press Council of India (PCI), accessed by South First.
The report noted that about 80 percent of journalists who resigned from their jobs were forced to submit their papers.
“Report of the subcommittee on retrenchment of journalists during Covid-19” was prepared by a sub-committee constituted on 10 December, 2020 to assess the impact of retrenchment in media houses on journalists.
The report said that government health departments in conjunction with news media companies should undertake regular surveys and counselling, and help those suffering from mental trauma and other health issues.
In total, 51 journalists representing 17 news organisations across English, Hindi, Marathi and Bangla, and 12 journalist unions, and associations deposed before the committee in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
The report said that nearly 80 percent of those who deposed were from three major publishers Bennett, Coleman & Co Limited (19), HT Media (14) and The Hindu Publishing Group (THG) (8).
Among the people who deposed before the sub-committee, only 15 are continuing full-time journalism jobs.
The majority (70%) of journalists who deposed reported being either unemployed (14 or 27.5%) or being self-employed (22 or 43%) or in various other professions, including engaging in occasional freelance journalism.
“Freelance journalism was described as unsustainable by those who are self-employed and continue to be unemployed,” the report said.
It said that the majority of the layoffs, which began a few weeks ahead of the pandemic-induced lockdown, happened between June 2020 and September 2020 and continued till September 2021.
According to data collated by the Network of Women in Media, India, 626 journalists died in the line of duty during the period due to Covid-19. The situation was further aggravated by forced salary cuts and mass retrenchments.
Independent estimates by former PCI member Balwinder Singh Jammu, and independent journalist Cyril Sam said between 2,500-2,300 were laid off. The exact numbers are likely higher since their data is mostly restricted to large publications in English.
The majority (80%) of journalists were forced to resign, opt for voluntary retirements, and be terminated. Many of those who deposed felt they were personally targeted for their work, the report said.
It said only 25 percent of journalists received formal emails, and in almost 75 percent of the cases, all communications regarding retrenchments were oral.
At the physical hearings, 80 percent of the journalists claimed they received no advance notice or formal communication about salary cuts and retrenchments.
Kavitha lyer, who was an associate editor of the Indian Express in Mumbai wrote: “At this meeting on Friday, I was requested to leave my phones outside… The HR manager who was also in the cabin said I would ‘have to resign’ and accept the relieving letter that was in the brown envelope in his hand, or I would be terminated and receive a termination letter…
The letter was publicly published in 2020 with lyer’s permission by Cyril Sam as part of his research into retrenchments by news media organisations during the Covid-19 pandemic. She was retrenched from The Indian Express bureau in Mumbai on 27 July, 2020 afetr spending 18 years of her career with the publication.
Prashant Barsingh who was terminated from Sakal newspaper in Mumbai said journalists are scared of approaching courts or challenging decisions for the fear of being blacklisted and not being hired.
Journalists who deposed felt the process of retrenchments and salary cuts was unfair and reported adverse impacts on financial stability.
After being forced to resign from Punya Nagari, a Marathi daily, in September 2020, Ramesh Parse had no option but to turn to odd jobs to feed his family.
“I returned to my village and engaged in agricultural labour to sustain myself and my family. I was still without a job a year later and I drove an auto in Mumbai for eight months. I was lucky to have a driving license and ‘badge’ as an auto driver before I joined journalism,” Parse deposed before the sub-committee.
Further, only 17 (37%) retrenched journalists reported receiving severance pay.
Among those who deposed, 44 (80%) reported being impacted financially, 34 reported dipping into family savings, 17 were forced to take loans and 12 journalists were forced to relocate.
The retrenchments emotionally affected 40 (80%) journalists who deposed before the committee. Retrenchments also impacted the self-worth and confidence of 40 (80%) journalists. Depression was reported by 30 (60%) journalists and 27 (54%) experienced social withdrawal.
Shruti Ganpatye was among the few journalists who chose not to resign when presented with the choice between resignation and termination at the Mumbai Mirror. She was eventually terminated, the report said.
“Only basic salary for the last two months was offered as retrenchment compensation. Only 3 persons including me, of an estimated 100 employees who lost their jobs in the Mumbai Mirror, refused to resign and were eventually terminated. I wrote emails asking for more compensation, however, there was no response from the company,” she said, according to the report.
Deepak Turbhekar, a photographer for Mumbai Mirror was asked to resign over a WhatsApp call, broke down before the sub-committee and said that while he was threatened with a termination if he did not resign, he was paid only one month’s salary after having worked at the organisation for 16 years.
Meanwhile, journalist unions raised the issue of service conditions — lack of written contracts, terms on employment contracts, financial and advertising targets — and their violations by news organisations.
“…if journalists do not have job security then at that very juncture the freedom of press is compromised,” the report said.
Journalists and their unions who deposed before the committee highlighted that normal employment terms like written contracts, health insurance, PF, and gratuity payments, are not present in the media industry thus allowing a hire-and-fire regime.
It urged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Law and Justice to introduce a Model Contract for journalists with certain mandatory clauses including minimum tenure of service of seven to 10 years, provision of giving PF, Gratuity, ESI in applicable cases, provision for leave, yearly increment in salary etc.
It also added that the Ministry of Law and Justice involve journalists and their representative bodies when drawing up the model contracts.
“The Model Contract should therefore ensure protection till the end of the contract or a severance payout of a minimum of 6 months of salary as a safety net, unless there is a situation where disciplinary action needs to be for violation of law or service rules,” the report said.
The sub-committee recommended that the Union government conduct a comprehensive study on the working and socio-economic conditions and map journalist retrenchments annually.
“Assistance from the state labour departments and bodies representing journalists should be taken for this annual review of working conditions,” the report said.
It said regular monitoring will help to deal with the problem more effectively
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
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