Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is understood to have suggested discussions on
the long pending Wage Boards for working journalists and non-journalists before any view
is taken on extending its tenure which ends on May 23. The Wage Boards, headed by Justice Gurbax Rai Majithia, had sought an extension till December 31 but the Labour
Ministry is not keen on it. The PM is believed to have asked Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge to hold further consultations on the issue with the newspaper unions and also to coordinate with I&B Minister Ambika Soni.