Damascus-SANA
The interventions of the participants in the work of the Seventh General Conference of the Union of Journalists, which began today at the Al-Assad National Library in Damascus, focused on the need to increase the nature of journalistic work, include retirees with health insurance, raise the retirement age to 65 years, and secure the necessary immunity for media professionals.
The members of the conference demanded to raise the ceiling of loans granted to journalists, assign the media certificate holders to the union, re-issue the paper newspapers that stopped printing due to the Corona virus, pay death compensation in two halves upon retirement and the second half upon death, and determine the reasons that prevented the implementation of the union’s plans.
President of the Union of Journalists, Moussa Abdel Nour, indicated that the current electoral cycle is unprecedented in terms of participation and the number of candidates, wishing that it would establish a new start for the union, reviewing what the union had achieved in the previous session, such as raising the pension, the value of medical prescriptions and social assistance, and allowing workers in the private sector and public sector workers to The system of bonuses and registration for affiliation with the Federation.
Abdel Nour said: The journalist must work within an administrative and media environment that gives him confidence, security and stability, which is the first requirement for his success, pointing to the importance of decentralization in journalistic work.
Abdel Nour reiterated the demand for the immediate release of Al-Ekhbariya reporter Muhammad Al-Saghir, who was arrested by the "Qasd militia" and held her fully responsible for the deterioration of his health, stressing that the defense of journalists is among the priorities of the Union's work by communicating with the concerned authorities and calling for an amendment of the legislative environment to ensure greater freedom of the press.
In turn, the Deputy Minister of Information, Ahmed Dawa, indicated that the ministry has moved towards activating the leaders, joints and media cadres in its institutions within a decentralized framework that would revitalize and develop the media and give it more flexibility.
Dawa indicated that the ministry and the union share one goal, which is to support the profession and protect journalists, and there is a response to most of the union’s requests in terms of support and securing new budgets, noting the role played by national media professionals during the war and their success in confronting the hostile media, which has capabilities, advanced equipment and huge budgets.
Member of the Central Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, Head of the Preparation, Culture and Information Office, Dr. Mahdi Dakhlallah pointed out the need to improve the living conditions of journalists and invest the Union's resources to support journalists and empower the role of women in the media.
The press conference honored Khaled al-Hassan, who was detained by the “Qasd militia” linked to the American occupier, as the conference continues its work until tomorrow to elect members of the Union Council.
Malik Abdo and Rehab Ali
