8.  Revised scale of wages for working journalist,- (1) The revised scale of wages of each group of the Working Journalists in different classes of news agency is prescribed in Table I.
(2) Every part-time correspondent/ photographer shall be paid not less than 40 per cent, if he is posted at district head-quarters and above and not less than 1/3rd, if he is posted at place below district head-quarters, of the basic pay plus DA applicable to a full time correspondent/photographer at similar level, provided that no part-time correspondent/photographer will work for more than two newspaper establishments. In addition, payment shall be paid to him on column basis, the rate of which to be settled by mutual negotiations.

Note- No scales of wages have been prescribed for the employees falling in Classes III and IV.

9. Revised scale of wages for non-journalist,- (1) The revised scales of wages of each group of the Non-journalist news agency employees in different classes of news agency is prescribed in Table II.
(2) Every time rated employee, that is to say, a person employed to work as time-rate employee (time-work) for either less or more than prescribed working hours and performs the job, or does the duty of a regular employee, shall be paid on pro-rata basis equivalent to the wages of the regular employee on the basis of number of hours for which he is employed.

Note- No scales of wages have been prescribed for the employees falling in Classes III and IV.

10. Drawal of wages in the revised scales,- (1) Save as otherwise provided in this Award,. a news agency employee shall draw wages in the revised scale applicable to the group to which he belongs.

11 Dearness Allowance,- (1) Formula for calculating dearness allowance and rate of neutralization are prescribed in Table III.

(2) Dearness Allowance may be sanctioned as soon as the figures for the quarter for which average regional index is to be used for determining rate of dearness allowance becomes available. Dearness allowance will become payable from the beginning of the quarter immediately succeeding the quarter for which regional  average index figures are used for determining rate of dearness allowance.
Provided that where a work place for which CPI number as compiled by Labour Bureau, Shimla, as a part of all India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Worker for a region is not available, the CPI number of the nearest centre should be adopted and where there is no such centre, CPI number of the State capital should be adopted. If, however, there is no regional CPI number in the State Capital, the CPI number of any centre in the State, which is the highest, shall be adopted.

(3) The revised rates of dearness allowance  shall be paid according to average all-India Consumer Price Index Number  (1982=100) for regional centre compiled by Labour Bureau for industrial worker and will become operative from 01.04.98.

Explanation,- For the purpose of this paragraph,-
  The Dearness Allowance in respect of the period preceding the date of operation of the Award shall be given at the existing rates (not revised).

12.  House rent allowance,- House rent allowance prescribed in Table IV shall be paid by News agency to its employees posted in the respective zones:
Provided that -

(i)  where an employee  is provided  residential  accommodation by News agency, no  house rent allowance will be payable.
(2)  if an employee is being paid house  rent  allowance, the same will be adjusted against the  amount of house rent allowance payable under this  provision.
(3)  where a newspaper establishment contributes on  behalf of an employee any amount towards a fund  to enable the employee to own his residential  accommodation, such amount shall be adjusted  against house rent allowance payable under this  provision.

14.  Night shift allowance,- Night shift allowance at the rates prescribed in Table VI shall  be paid by the news agency to their respective employees.

15.  Hardship allowance,- An employee working in hilly area above 5000 ft. (1524 metres) from the sea level or in a disturbed area shall be paid a lump sum of Rs. 250 per month.

Explanation.- For the purpose of this para, "disturbed area" means disturbed area declared by the appropriate Government, ie, State Government or Central Government, as the case may be, under the relevant Act.

16.  Leave travel allowance,- An employee shall be paid leave travel allowance at the rates prescribed in Table VII

17. Medical Allowance,- The employees working in in news agencies falling in Classes I and II shall be paid
medical allowance prescribed in Table VIII. However, only those employees will be paid who are not covered by Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).

18.  Fixation of initial wage in the revised scale.- The initial wage of an employee in the revised scale shall be fixed in the following manner -

(a) For the new entrant, the wages shall be fixed in the revised scale at the minimum of the scale.
(b) In the case of employees already working in the news agency, the wages shall be fixed in the revised scale at the stage next above the existing emolument.
(c) If the minimum of the revised scale is higher than the amount of the emoluments being presently drawn by the employee, the wages shall be fixed at the minimum of the revised scale.
(d) If the existing emoluments of the employee are higher than minimum of the revised scale, the wages shall be fixed at next higher stage  in  the revised scale.
(e) Every employee shall be given one increment in the revised scale for completion of every four years' service in the post held immediately before the date of the commencement of the Award.
(f) The service rendered by the concerned employee in any other  post carrying a scale in that news agency, the minimum of which is lower by not more than 30% of the minimum of the scale in which the employees worked, shall also be taken into account.
(g) The total number of increments shall not be more than three.
(h) No employee shall get more than the maximum of the revised scale.
(i) The revised scales shall become applicable to all employees with effect from the date of operation. However, if  an employee within three weeks from the date of publication of Government Notification under the section 12 of the Act enforcing these recommendations opts for retaining his existing pay scales and "existing emoluments", he shall be entitled to retain his existing scale and such emoluments.

(a) The existing emoluments of an employee shall mean his basic pay, variable dearness allowance at the All India Consumer Price Index Number 1813 (base 1960=100) and interim relief, if any, as on the 1st day of  January 1998.
(b) The "additional emoluments" of an employee shall mean emoluments other than  the "existing emoluments" described in clause (1) granted by newspaper establishments (news agency) as a result of collective  bargaining, agreement or award, as  increase  in basic wage, dearness  allowance or interim relief.
(c)  The  "additional allowances" of an  employee shall mean any monthly payments, by whatever name called, not related to a specific purpose nor agreed to be adjusted against any revision of pay or dearness allowance.

20 Date of operation of Allowances,-

Except as otherwise provided in the Award, to the contrary, the CCA, HRA and Hardship Allowance prescribed in the Award shall be effective from 01.06.99.

Other allowances shall be effective from the date of notification of the Award.