Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955

2.Definitions. -

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

1[(a) "Board" means--

(i)In relation to working journalists, the Wage Board constituted under Sec. 9 ; and

(ii)In relation to non-journalist newspaper employees, the Wage Board constituted under Sec. 13-C;]

(b)"Newspaper" means any printed periodical work containing public news or comments on public news and includes such other class of printed periodical work as may, from time to time, be notified in this behalf by the Central Government in the official Gazette;

(c)"Newspaper employee" means any working journalist, and includes any other person employed to do any work in or in relation to any newspaper establishment;

(d)"Newspaper establishment" means an establishment under the control of any person or body of persons, whether incorporated or not, for the production or publication of one or more newspaper or for conducting any news agency or syndicate: 2[and includes newspaper establishments specified as one establishment under the Schedule.

Explanation. - For the purposes of this clause,-

(a)Different departments, branches and centers of newspaper establishments shall be treated as parts thereof;

(b)A printing press shall be deemed to be a newspaper establishment if the principal business thereof is to print newspaper.)

3(dd)"non-journalist newspaper employee" means a person employed to do any work in, or in relation 'to, any newspaper establishment, but does not include any such person who-

(i)Is a working journalist, or

(ii)Is employed mainly in a managerial or administrative capacity, or

(iii)Being employed in a supervisory capacity, performs, either by the nature of the duties attached to his office or by reason of the powers vested in him, functions mainly of a managerial nature;

(e)"Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

4[(ee)Tribunal means, -

(i)In relation to working journalists, the Tribunal constituted under Sec. 13-AA; and

(ii)In relation to non-journalist newspaper employees, the Tribunal constituted under Sec. 13-DD;]

5(eee) "Wages" means all remuneration capable of being expressed in terms of money, which would, if the terms of employment, expressed or implied, were fulfilled, be payable to a newspaper employee in respect of his employment or of work done in such employment, and includes

(i)Such allowances (including dearness allowance) as the newspaper employee is for the time being entitled to;

(ii)The value of any house accommodation, or of supply of light, water, medical attendance or other amenity or of any service or of any concessional supply of food grains or other articles.

(iii)Any traveling concession, but does not include-

(a)Any bonus;

(b)Any contribution paid or payable by the employer to any pension fund or provident fund or for the benefit of the newspaper employee under any law for the time being in force

(c)Any gratuity payable on the termination of his service.

Explanation- In this clause, the term "wages" shall also include new allowances, if any, of any description fixed from time to time.]

(f)"Working Journalist" means a person whose principal avocation is that of a journalist and 6[who is employed as such, either whole-time or part-time, in, or in relation to, one or more newspaper establishment], and includes an editor. a leader writer, news- editor, sub-editor, feature-writer, copy-tester, reporter, correspondent, cartoonist, news-photographer and proof-reader, but does not include any such person who- 

(i)Is employed mainly in a managerial or administrative capacity; or

(ii)Being employed in a supervisory capacity, performs, either  by the nature of the duties attached to his office or by reason of the powers vested in him, functions mainly of a managerial nature-, (g) all words and expressions used but not defined in this Act and deemed in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (XIV of 1947), shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act.

1.Subs. by Act 60 of 1974, Sec. 3.

2. Ins. by Act 31 of 1989, Sec. 2.

3.Ins. by Act 60 of 1974, Sec. 3.

4.Ins. by Act 6 of 1979, Sec. 2 (w. e. f. 3 1st January, 19 79).

5.Ins. by Act 31 of 1989, Sec. 2.

6.Subs. by Act 36 of 1981 (w.e.f. 13th August, 1981).

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