Journalists working in different media outlets held protests in the Capital on Friday, demanding job security for mediapersons. 

Dozens of journalists led by the Federation of Nepali Journalists demonstrated at Maitighar, holding placards that demanded that journalists must not be laid off using the Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse. 

The demonstration, according to the federation, was staged in the wake of an increasing number of journalists facing termination, furloughs and pay cuts. 

Ramesh Bista, general secretary of the federation, said that media houses, which should be paying additional attention to their employees during the crisis, are instead adding to their problems by not paying them or by terminating their contracts. 

At least 150 journalists from different media houses have filed complaints at the federation, saying they had lost their jobs without proper severance pay, according to Bista. 

“We agree that media houses are in trouble due to the pandemic, but it is wrong to lay off staff abruptly without proper retirement benefits,” he told the Post. “Media houses have responsibilities towards their staff.”