3. Classification of newspaper establishments.- For the purpose of fixation or revision of rates of wages in respect of working journalists and non-journalist newspaper employees (other than news agencies), news paper establishments shall be classified in the manner hereinafter provided -

(a) (i) Classification of newspaper establishments shall be based on the average gross revenue of three (3) accounting years 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98. The different departments, branches and centres of newspaper establishment shall be treated as parts thereof.

(ii) Notwithstanding the clubbing of different departments, branches or centres of newspaper establishments on the basis of their own gross revenue, the units of the newspaper establsihments of all the classes as categorised in paragraph 6 of this chapter shall not be stepped up by more than two classes over and above the classes to which they belong according to their gross revenue, as a result of clubbing.

Explanation,- For the purpose of this clause,-
If there are different units/branches/companies of one classified newspaper establishment in one town or city and adjoining areas, even though carrying different names, will be treated as one single unit of that newspaper establishment.

(b) In the case of a newspaper establishment completing two out of the aforementioned three (3) accounting years, its classification shall be determined on the basis of its average gross revenue for those two years.

(c) In the case of a newspaper establishment which has completed only one year of the said accounting years, its classification shall be determined on the basis of its gross revenue for that year.

(d) A new newspaper establishment, that is to say, a newspaper establishment to which the provisions of clause (a), (b) and (c) above do not, in terms, apply. is liable to be classified after the completion of its first accounting year on the basis of its gross revenue for that year.
 

Provided that -

4. Continuance of classification.- The classification determined in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter shall continue until the newspaper establishment is reclassified in accordance with the provisions of para 7 of this Chapter.

5. Change of ownership.- If the ownership of the newspaper establishment is transferred by one person to another, the Provisions of paras 3 and 4 of this Chapter shall apply to such newspaper establishment as if the gross revenue of the newspaper establishment for the relevant accounting years under the previous owner were its revenue for those years under the new owner.

6.  Classes of newspaper establishments.- Newspaper establishments shall be classified under the following classes on the basis of their gross revenue as per para 3(a) of this Chapter.
 

Class     Gross Revenue

IB         Rs. 600 crore and above;

IA         Rs. 225 crore and above but less than Rs. 600 crore;

I            Rs. 75 crore and above but less than Rs. 225 crore;

II           Rs. 25 crore and above but less than Rs. 75 crore;

III          Rs. 11 crore and above but less than Rs. 25 crore;

IV         Rs. 5.5 crore and above but less than Rs. 11 crore;

V           Rs. 2.5 crore and above but less than Rs. 5.5 crore;

VI          Rs. 1.25 crore and above but less than Rs. 2.5 crore;

VII         Rs. 60 lakh and above but less than Rs. 1.25 crore;

VIII        Rs. 30 lakh and above but less than Rs. 60 lakh;

IX          Less than Rs. 30 lakh.

Explanation.- In this para,
 

(a) Gross revenue of the circulation and advertisement clubbed together derived by a newspaper establishment, other than one falling in Class IX. If the advertisement revenue is less than 55 per cent of its aforesaid revenue, then it should be placed in the class next below the class in which it would fall on the basis of total average gross revenue.
(b)  Gross revenue  of the circulation and  advertisement clubbed together derived by  a  newspaper establishment. other than one falling  in class IX, if the advertisement revenue is  less than 45% of its aforesaid revenue, then it  should be placed two classes below the class in  which it would fall on the basis of its total  average gross revenue.
(c)  newspaper establishment, other than one falling  in Class IX, publishing Indian language  newspapers from a district town and not having  more than two  publications  and  whose  advertisement revenue is less than 60 percent of  the total gross revenue. will be placed one class  below the class in which it would fall on the  basis of its total gross revenue.
(d)  No newspaper establishment shall be deemed to be  below class IX.

7. Reclassification.- It shall be open either to the employer or to the employees to seek a reclassification of a newspaper establishment at any time after one year from the date of enforcement of the Award on the basis of the average gross revenue of the three (3) immediately preceding accounting years: Provided that such reclassification should not be sought more than once in any period of three (3) consecutive accounting years.

8.  Grouping of Newspaper employees.- (1) Working Journalists in the regular cadre, namely full time employees, in newspaper establishments of classes 1B to IX shall be grouped as under the First Schedule;  and functional definitions of various categories of working journalists are described in the Second Schedule.
(2) Non-journalist newspaper employees in the administrative stafff in the regular cadre in newspaper establishments of classes IB to IX shall be grouped as under the Third Schedule.
(3) Grouping of factory staff for all newspaper establishments shall be as under the Fourth Schedule.