Stating that journalists are still facing a lot of professional and physical security threats, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has urged the government to effectively implement the Working Journalist Act.

Submitting a memorandum to Information and Communication Minister Sher Dhan Rai, FNJ team led by Chairman Mahendra Bista demanded that minimum wage be ensured for working journalists. Though it is more than two decades since the law was enforced, more than 90 percent of media houses are yet to pay their workers on time. Delayed payment and under-payment are the main problems journalists are facing.

The FNJ delegation also drew the attention of Minister towards establishing the National Mass Communica-tion Training Academy as soon as possible. The erstwhile government had allocated budget last year to set up the Academy but there has not been any progress.

The FNJ also stated that capacity of the Press Council Nepal should be enhanced and its autonomy ensured so that it would monitor all types of media. The restructuring of the Council, formation of the National Media Commission and ending impunity in the journalism sector are other demands of the FNJ.