The Supreme Court today cleared the way for the government to publish the gazette notification implementing the recommendation of 9th Wage Board for journalists.

The apex court stayed for eight weeks the High Court order that issued status quo on publication of the gazette notification.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order following a petition filed by the government seeking stay on the high court order of status quo.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the government while advocate AF Hasan Ariff appeared for The Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (Noab).

On August 6, the HC issued the status quo for two months. The court also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain why the unilateral finalisation of the award by the ninth wage board without giving the stakeholders opportunity to raise objections to the recommendations should not be declared illegal.

Yesterday, the four-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC fixed today for passing the order on the High Court order of status quo after concluding hearing on the government petition.

The government on January 29 last year constituted the 9th wage board to propose enhanced salary and other benefits for journalists and other employees of newspapers and news agencies.

On July 25 this year, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader had said a cabinet committee on 9th wage board award for newspaper and news agency journalists and other employees has finalised its report for cabinet endorsement.

Quader, who heads the seven-member cabinet committee, had told newsmen “after the final approval [by the cabinet], a gazette will be published” for its implementation.