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Forum for protection of employment in film field

KOCHI: A combine of Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) Federation, CITU, and AITUC has formed a ‘Malayalam film employment protection forum’ in the wake of reports that many affiliated to these organisations have been denied work in ongoing movie productions.

A joint meeting of the organisations here on Wednesday urged the government to issue labour cards to members affiliated to these registered trade unions.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, representatives of the combine John Fernandez (CITU), Kanam Rajendran (AITUC), and Vinayan (MACTA Federation), said they would jointly launch a campaign against the denial of work to thousands of its members by a section of the Malayalam film industry.

Elaborating on the recent incidents where artistes were denied opportunities, Baiju Kottarakkara, film director and secretary of the employment protection forum, said Sreeja, a leading dubbing artiste, was forced to take membership in the recently-formed Film Employees Federation Kerala (FEFKA) that was formed by the splinter group in the MACTA Federation. Ms. Sreeja refused to take the membership of FEFKA and she was denied opportunity to work in a recent movie.

Mr. Vinayan said the combine of trade unions would launch an agitation, if FEFKA continued to deny opportunities to members of the MACTA Federation and its supporters.

He said the government should ensure that employees affiliated to registered unions should be given work on a turn-by-turn basis.

The campaign organised by the combine would begin next week. It would start from Kasaragod and conclude at Thiruvananthapuram.

Mr. Fernandez is the chairman of the Malayalam Film Employment Protection Forum while Mr. Rajendran and Mr. Vinayan are its the vice-chairmen. Besides Mr. Kottarakkara, scenarist Biju Vattapara would work as secretary.

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