Only eleven serials have completed the Covid-19 insurance formalities, alleges Swarup Biswas

Kolkata: Shooting of all serials beamed on Zee Bangla and Sun Bangla have been stalled from Friday morning. Not only did it create a big problem for meeting telecast deadlines, it also meant loss of pay for cast and crew for Friday. However, Swarup Biswas, the president of Federation of Cine Technicians & Workers of Eastern India (FCTWEI), told TOI that the decision to stall work was backed by solid reasons. Excerpts:

How many technicians have been infected by Covid-19?

Quite a few technicians have been infected. Some have been infected at home. We are making arrangements to get them tested.

What is the status of shooting of their serials?

We will also get the tests done of others in those units. That will be done by FCTWEI and will be free of cost. As far as my knowledge goes, the guidelines state that the others have to be tested after three days. So, we will get that done within the stipulated time.

Why was the shooting of popular serials including “Kadambini” and “Rani Rashmoni” for two private channels stalled on Friday?

Yes, there has been a problem. During the long lockdown period, technicians who were attached to specific serials got no pay. A commitment was made by the channels to disburse a part of that payment to the technicians. Despite repeated mails, this payment has not been released.

But what was the rational behind asking for payment of freelancers when they have not worked?

This payment is for technicians who have long been associated with particular serials. There was an understanding that 45% to 50% of wages for the four months of no shooting will be given by the channels. Disbursement of part of the wages during this period falls under the CRS schemes of multinational companies.

Is all this on record?

Yes. It is not a verbal thing. It is part of the MOU.

Can freelancers demand payment without working?

That was the understanding. Channels were not giving 100% of the wages. Besides, each technician is committed to a particular serial. That technician will know details about the serial. Tomorrow, that technician can’t suddenly walk out of that serial and join another one. That’s why everyone agreed to make this payment. Technicians are engaged year after year with one serial. Without any notice from the channel or producers, he/she can’t even work in any other serial. The cast and crew depend on his/her expertise.

Is the same understanding there with actors of serials? Do they also get 50% of their wages for the lockdown period when they didn’t shoot? Or is it just for technicians?

It is perhaps the same. I wouldn’t know if the payment has been given to the actors. I don’t look after Artists Forum and hence, can comment on that.

So, are you saying that the shooting was stalled because an understanding was not honoured?

They have been continuously giving dates and not honouring them. How long can this go on? We, at FCTWEI, don’t have enormous funds to go on helping technicians financially. We need a final date on when that payment will be released.

Stalling shooting means loss of pay for technicians and actors today. Isn’t it?

What can one do? I am being flooded with messages of guild members asking me about when that payment will come in. The channels have missed dates thrice. There is also another important point. Only 11 serials have done the Covid-19 insurance for the technicians. It’s been almost two months since we decided on this insurance scheme.

There are some 35 serials being shown now. Why is it taking so long to process the insurance of other serials?

God forbid, if something happens now, the families will be left in the lurch. The FCTWEI doesn’t have the fund to pay Rs 25 lakh in case of the unfortunate demise of any of the technicians. We have waited for long. Whenever we ask for the status of the insurance schemes, we are told that work is in progress. Channels and production houses are silent about this when we send mails. Since all stakeholders had agreed to get the insurance done, I don’t understand why there is a problem in honouring this commitment.

Officials of one of the channels whose serials have been stalled claim that you are penalising them after demanding that a goodwill gesture be honoured. Your take?

This is a CRS activity. Goodwill gestures also come with a deadline. That understanding can’t be misused.

Have the channels paid the technicians for the shooting they did after work started in June?

Technicians get the payment from the production houses. Not every producer has made those payments in full.

Last time when there was a problem regarding serial shooting, it was decided that any unresolved issue would be placed in front of the JCC. Did you place this wage problem in front of JCC?

No, we haven’t done that. We had a meeting in front of our minister and an MOU was signed. There is no connection between JCC and this.

Why was shooting stalled around 10-ish today? In such times of financial crisis, giving a warning yesterday would have incurred less loss for producers. Stalling work might mean missing a telecast date. Isn't it?

We never want telecast to be missed. We have been asking for a date since Friday. Nobody listened to us.

The chief minister always insists that work shouldn’t be stalled. Don’t you think this step goes against her vision?

Every technician is on the floor. It is not that they are outside and haven’t reported to work. They are eagerly waiting to start work. As soon as the date of payment is given by the channels, they will immediately resume shooting.

Since the shooting of serials of only two channels have been stalled, have the others paid dues to the technicians and done the Covid-19 insurances as well?

Colors has said that it will clear the payment by next week. Star has cleared all the dues of technicians for the lockdown period. The Covid-19 insurance papers, however, are pending for serials of all channels.

Source: The Times of India

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