Advanced Television

Indian soap-operas under threat

November 6, 2015

By Chris Forrester

India’s locally important Association of Film & TV Editors is advising its members to go on “indefinite” strike.

Labour relations between Film Editors and programming producers are said to be at an all time low. Some producers have reached separate settlements with editors in order to maintain the output of daily soap-operas.

Relations are strained because an industry-wide agreement between the production community and some key players was agreed and should have been signed on October 14th, and this date was some 8 months after the expiry of a previous agreement expiring.

The employers are arguing that the unions (and there are 22 relevant unions affiliated to the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, FWICE) cannot control their members. Producers are talking of shifting the editing process to other cities.

FWICE is seeking wage improvements, more hygienic working conditions, and an end to unreasonable working hours.

And Diwali, India’s festive season when TV viewing is high, starts this coming weekend.

Categories: Articles, Policy, Regulation