Kantipur Media Group and the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) on Friday reached a four-point agreement to end the protest at the KMG.

With the signing of the agreement, the umbrella body of Nepali journalists announced the withdrawal of its Kantipur Publications-centric protest programmes with immediate effect.

FNJ chair Bipul Pokharel and Group Chief of Staff at the KMG Shishir Pachhai signed the agreement.

The agreement states that the journalists and other staff working in the company will be provided facilities in accordance with the relevant legal provisions, the transfers, terminations and clarifications earlier taken by the company will be withdrawn and a working environment will be created for the journalists.

The agreement also mentions that the company can lay off journalists and other employees as per existing laws if it deems it essential; the due monthly salaries will be released at the earliest and the protest programmes announced by the FNJ will be withdrawn.

"We inform one and all that a meeting point was found based on the movement and existing labour laws," the statement issued by FNJ General Secretary Roshan Puri read. "It has been ensured that the journalists interested in working at the organisation will have comfortable working environment and those choosing volunteer retirement will get the facilities and perks as per the laws."

The federation also stated that the two sides have agreed to ensure that all decisions with regard to working journalists will be based on existing laws.

"With the agreement, the protest programmes announced by the federation have been withdrawn," the federation said in its statement.