 |
 |
| Teachers slam deductions | |
|
A NUMBER of teachers have
complained that their salaries have been deducted by the PNG Teachers
Association without their knowledge. A teacher from a national high school in NCD, who requested anonymity, said he had authorised for K10 to be deducted from his salary as his membership contribution to PNGTA. However, in April, his fortnight salaries credited into his bank account were K109 less than his normal net pay. A check with his pay slip confirmed that K119 was deducted to PNGTA, which he said he never authorised. Robert Ganim, the provincial education adviser for Enga, said he had also received reports from teachers about this alleged practice by PNGTA. Mr Ganim said an officer has been tasked with collecting names and information of all teachers claiming to have been ripped off by the teachers’ association. In Southern Highlands, education adviser Robert Rambi said teachers there have also complained about salary deductions going to the association’s welfare fund without their consent. Simbu teachers have also raised similar concerns, with deductions being made on April 23 and this week. Kuga Parabuk Primary School headmaster Paul Paraka, from Nebilyer in Western Highlands province, claimed that K35 was deducted from his salary the previous fortnight and K180 this payday. He said a teacher, Andrew Pora, had only K5 credited into his account this week following a K300 deduction paid to PNGTA while Charlie Bane is now left with K12 after similar deductions. Teo Moka, Koge Namba Primary School in the Hagen Central district, Western Highlands, said instead of taking K5 from his pay, two separate deductions of K69 were made in the last two fortnights. Charles Dama, a teacher in Goroka, said he had K313 deducted from his salary on Feb 28, and the same amount again on April 11 without authorisation. Senior officials at the PNGTA did not return calls made to their office. But, in a public notice advert placed in The National yesterday, PNGTA acting national general secretary Ugwalubu Mowana said for the pay periods ending April 23 and May 7 respectively, additional deductions were as underpaid subscriptions. Mowana said there will be no refunds. He said the additional deductions were only for the last two paydays as an administrative procedure and would not happen again. He said members who do experience additional deductions must make necessary claims for a refund. He said PNGTA will check its records and if there were irregular cases of double deductions occurring, a refund will be arranged. |
|
| Nation Stories | |
 |
 |
 |
 |