Tambua queries employment process of PNG’s top commercial bank, calls for government intervention

One of the biggest commercial banks in the region, Bank South Pacific, has been put under the spotlight over claims of unfair recruitment.

Goroka MP Aiye Tambua alleged that the bank’s recruitment process must be investigated by the national government, stating that BSP overlooks qualified PNG nationals for foreign professionals to occupy top management positions.

“We are now importing a lot of expatriate's over national staff. Plenty of positions that should be occupied by our national workers filled by foreigners,” Tambua claimed.

“They are now importing staff from other countries to come and do the jobs that we can do in this country. We have been marginalised in our own country.”

Tambua told parliament that BSP employs at least 2000 Papua New Guineans but less than 10% of BSP’s top management is held by PNG nationals.

Regardless of the revenue it generates, the management component of the bank does not sit well with majority of PNG locals.

He asked the government if there are laws in place to protect PNG citizens from unfair and injustice treatment in employment terms.

State Enterprise Minister William Duma in response explained that the government only owns a 20% share of the company and doesn’t have control over the bank’s affairs, considering its structure.

But Mr Duma said there are labor laws in place to protect the rights of PNG nationals in matters of such unfair and injustice treatment.

He said despite the bank establishing its headquarters in PNG, BSP as an international organization has its own employment standards to hire competent people that can deliver for their business.

The state minister said PNG nationals must be qualified to assume roles at the management level not only in BSP but across other organizations.