News - Social security for media personnel

The Government will present to Parliament this week a Bill to establish a social security benefit scheme for media personnel. The scheme will operate on a contributory system and benefactors will be paid monthly on reaching the age of 60. Media persons employed by media organisations on a permanent, contract or freelance basis who are not less than 18 years of age and not more than 50 and are contributors to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) will be entitled to join the scheme on a voluntary bias.

For the operation of this Fund, a Social Security Benefit Fund for Media Personnel will be set up with an initial capital of Rs 100 million paid out of the Consolidated Fund.

The basis of calculation of the amount payable to the contributor will depend on the period for which the contributions were made, the age of the contributor and the total amount contributed.

The scheme also provides for members to be entitled to periodic benefits in amounts calculated in a prescribed manner. A “media person” has been described as “a person who being a journalist is engaged in the gathering of, preparation and dissemination of news, information and comments on such news or information, through any medium of communication inclusive of print and electronic media.

The Bill will be presented by Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa.