SECTOR 4 4.3 Salary levels and general working conditions, including safety, for journalists and other media practitioners are adequate A collective bargain agreement renegotiated by trade unions in 2017 set the minimum wage for journalists and other media professionals at 77,000 FCFA (154 USD) per month, with the understanding that media outlets with more resources would pay more. Unions also agreed to pay part of journalists’ contribution to the National Social Insurance Fund. These measures were taken to improve the wages of journalists (which were very low) and to establish a pension plan. Even by the standards of developing countries, the minimum entry-level wage for a journalist could hardly cover basic expenditure. Panellists stated that journalists remained among the professionals with the lowest wages. Some journalists, who are at the bottom of the pay scale, earn only 40,000 FCFA (80 USD) per month; while some senior journalists and even editors-in-chief hardly earn 150,000 FCFA (300 USD) per month. In worse circumstances, some journalists have neither a work contract nor a regular salary and must live on the irregular favours that they receive from event organisers. It is not surprising that working conditions in general are poor, especially in private media. As a result of a lack of transportation, some journalists go to work – or even on assignments – on motorcycles. The panellists gave several explanations for these poor working conditions. Firstly, most owners create media houses to defend their narrow economic and political interests, without paying attention to the working conditions of their employees. Secondly, owners see their newspapers and broadcasting media as private ‘money mills’ and do not share revenue with their staff. Finally, the revenues of most private media outlets cannot support the payroll or provide good working conditions for their journalists. The situation is perhaps better in the public sector, where wages are generally higher and more regular. All in all, state media journalists enjoy better working conditions and receive many benefits, such as health insurance schemes. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 40 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2018 ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 1.6 (2007 : n/a; 2009 = 1.5; 2011 = 1.5; 2014 = 1.6)