Minimum wage rate review in progress

Work is in progress to review the K3.53 minimum wage for workers both in private and public sector as per the current government’s direction given with funding support of K5 million.

The independent committee spearheaded by Minister for Labor and Industrial Relations Kessy Sawang, said the current wage rate was set in 2014 during the last review with no changes made to date.

Sawang said review exercise commenced last year in Port Mosby and Central and will roll out to Gulf and other provinces around the country this year.

“The committee is independent, and they come from the employers, the representatives of employers in PNG, like the Employers Federation.

“They come from the Trade Union Congress. We have a church rep there, we have a youth rep, we have a community rep, and we have a government rep. So minimum wage is not unilaterally determined by the government. It is a tripartite decision made by this group of people,” Sawang said.

She said minimum wage was important as it concerns social protection and this review will ensure those at a lower level of income are not affected by poverty and rising costs.

“So the main finding is that we all agree that minimum wage should increase. That's no question about it.”

Minister Sawang encouraged people to give their views when the review committee go around conducting reviews.

“The more people we have, it's better because you come and you tell us exactly what you want and how you want to see Papua New Guinea go,” she said.

“Myself as minister, the board, the department secretary, the chairwoman of the review board has agreed that we all will work towards the 31st of May as the deadline.”