The Confederation of Newspapers and News Agencies Employees Organisations today said it will launch a country-wide agitation if the government failed to extend the tenure of the wage boards of journalists and non-journalists within the next three days.

The confederation members, who staged a rally here demanding the extension, also sought action against labour minister Mallikarjun Kharge, who they alleged was taking an anti-labour stand and "favouring the employers".

The term of the wage boards expired yesterday. Chairman of the boards Justice G R Majithia had sought an extension of up to December 31 to submit the recommendations.

The labour ministry, however, is said to be not keen to grant the extension.

"The wage boards have already completed more than 75 per cent of the work. We will launch a country-wide agitation if the government fails to extend the tenure of the boards within three days," general secretary of the confederation M S Yadav said.

He said the confederation will not accept setting up of a tribunal.

The issue of extension to the wage boards came up during this week's Union Cabinet meeting where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was believed to have asked Kharge to hold further consultations on the issue with the newspaper unions and to coordinate with I&B minister Ambika Soni.