PORT MORESBY, (POST COURIER) – Despite the negative impact of inflation Papua New Guinea has been experiencing, all public servants have witnessed for the first time in 25 years, a significant boost in the real value of their earnings.
Personnel Management Secretary John Kali said this when speaking at the recent 36th biennial congress of the Public Employees Association of PNG.
He informed those present at the congress that since 2011 the average pay of public servants has increased by 55 per cent and the average pay of the lowest paid has increased by 75 per cent.
As he centered his talk on the congress theme: recognising our public servants efforts in nation building, Kali said in all partnerships, there must be give and take by the partners.
“So that when considering how best we can recognise public servants contribution to nation building, we must also answer how we can measure that contribution.
“Our first thought about giving that recognition is whether or not they are being reasonably or fairly paid,” Kali said.
He said police constables, teachers and nurses have all witnessed pay increases of a similar of higher magnitude over this period.
“In 2010 lowest paid public servants were earning K350 (US$110) a fortnight and today they are earning K600 (US$189) a fortnight.
“Likewise the entry salaries of base grade constables have increased from K600 to K1050 (US$189 – US$331)
a fortnight, base grade teachers from K390 to K900 and base grade nurses from K450 to K820 a fortnight” Kali said.
He said when adjusted for cumulative inflation of 35 per cent over the past six years, the net real value of average earnings of the 120,000 public servants has increased by an average of 20 per cent since 2010.
He said there a high level of pay increase by all previous measures.
“Recognition has been awarded to our public servants by the current government in line with the high levels of growth in the economy and the increased government revenues,” he said.
He said some concern raised of employees being under paid must be checked and the matter must be reported to the authorities.
