Singida: The Association of Workers in the media in the country (JOWUTA) has asked the government to manage the labor laws for employees in the media as they are in other sectors so that journalists get their rights and entitlements.
The National Chairman of JOWUTA, Mr. Mussa Juma made the call yesterday while speaking at the general meeting of the Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC) in Singida region.
Mr. Juma said, many journalists in the country have been going through big things if there is no employment, no contracts and no health and life insurance.
“In other sectors, we see measures being taken if the employer does not pay the workers’ wages or the employer stays with the employee for more than a year without even giving him a contract”, he said, Mr. Juma
He said JOWUTA has tried several times to convey the arguments of the best interests of the government writers but still not enough steps are being taken.
Mr. Juma said, more than 80 percent of writers in the country do not have employment contracts or insurance, which reduces the freedom and freedom of their work.
Executive Director of UTPC, Mr. Kenneth Simbaya asked the government to work on the issue of interest for journalists.
Simbaya asked the official guest at the meeting, the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adolf Mkenda to convey the arguments of the writers’ challenges in the cabinet.
Mr. Juma asked journalists to continue joining JOWUTA in order to have a common voice to demand their rights and entitlements.
Professor Mkenda promised his ministry to collaborate with journalists because they recognize the importance of the media and he knows the challenges of journalists.
Minister Professor Mkenda also spoke about major changes in the education sector in the country which aim to improve the sector and provide graduates with skills and abilities to be self-employed and employed.
