DUSHANBE, April 26, Asia-Plus  -- With support of the Finnish Foundation for Media, Communication and Development (Vikes), the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit) organized a two-day seminal formally titled “On Prospects of Establishment of Journalists’ Labor Union in Tajikistan” on April 25-26.   

 The seminar that brought together representatives from print and electronic media from all regions of the country discussed issues related to establishing independent labor union of journalists in Tajikistan.        

The Nansmit head Nouriddin Qarshiboyev noted that they had conducted a poll among Tajik journalists to known their onion about establishment of journalists’ labor union in the country.  “More than 85 percent of those surveyed are for establishment of the labor union that would defend their social and professional rights,” the Nansmit said, noting that his association cannot take labor union’s place because Nansmit’s mission is just to initiate establishment of the labor union in the country.

Asia-Plus’ Turko Dikayev noted that establishment of independent labor union of Tajik journalists is a real protection of them against arbitrary decisions by employers and officials.

Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Airi Leppanen (phonetically spelled) of Vikes told the seminar participants that Finnish Journalists’ Union has some 15,000 members working with newspapers, radio and TV companies, publishing houses and other media companies.  The Union has 19 labor unions, with largest of them being the labor union of radio and TV reporters, she said, noting that they assist journalists in crisis situations, paying them unemployment benefits, providing with useful information about labor markets and terms of labor contracts, etc.  Tajik journalists could adopt thee practices, according to her.              

The Finnish Foundation for Media, Communication and Development (Vikes) was set up by 26 Finnish communications entities in 2005. It is a foundation for development cooperation, intended to promote freedom of expression and the pluralism of media as a basis for democracy and social development.  VIKES was established on the initiative of the Union of Journalists in Finland, and brings together the whole Finnish journalistic profession.