Rein in reckless schedules running 16, 18, 20 hours: Arindam Ganguly

As per reports, artistes have been demanding overtime after 10 hours of work a day; it’s actually pro rata and not overtime, as it’s decided on an hourly basis. Also, producers have been asked to clear the backlog of artistes’ remuneration by October 7. It’s a fact that dues don’t get cleared on time and producers often take 60-90 days to make payments.We want the producers to pay the artistes within 15 days of the following month.
There has been this practice in the TV industry to shoot for 16, 18, 20 hours; this at a time when the rule across the world is to work eight hours. We understand that creative work cannot always be completed within a limited span of time. But 10 hours is a lot of time, after which the artistes can work for four more hours for which they will have to be paid. The idea is to rein in reckless schedules of megaserials. About artistes not maintaining their call time, we have asked the production houses to send us a list. But most refrain from naming the serial defaulters. I think at a time when so many issues are being discussed, the artistes can be told to report on time.
Yes, some producers have raised the issue that they have been barred from shooting indoors and outdoors on the same day or move from one studio to another. I think Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India will be able to give clarity on this as it’s not something that the Artists Forum has suggested. See, we have a 23-day schedule per month, out of which one can avail the benefits of a 7-day relaxation. Within this stipulated week, one can give artistes a late call time, which can even be 2 am. But then, no one should be working for over 14 hours. And one needs to be a little sensitive — the next day’s call time should be after at least six-seven hours. I think we must respect the efforts everyone puts into a venture and resolve the deadlock at the earliest.