Tunisia: PM committed to free, independent media, says SNJT's B'ghouri

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"This hinges on the government making a commitment to upholding the freedom of press and giving structural and legislative support to media institutions," he said following a meeting that brought together Saturday Premier Habib Essid and members of the SNJT Executive Committee.

Recurrent attacks against reporters were also the centre of the debate; B'ghouri said in this connection the Interior Ministry "has to further mentor police officers to prevent recidivist behaviour." "The SNJT does no longer tolerate such a conduct," he warned.

The Interior Ministry needs to do its utmost to train policemen, the Premier underlined.

In addition, members of the SNJT Executive Committee spoke of some media institutions breaching the Labour Code and related agreements.

"This is likely to fuel corruption in the sector," B'ghouri cautioned. He urged in this vein the Social Affairs Ministry to make sure media enterprises comply with the labour legislation.

The SNJT anew put on the table its demands, including a housing project geared towards journalists and a social fund which will be partly financed by public advertising revenues, the chair indicated.