Law gets tough on engineers

By FRANK RAI
EMPLOYERS of unregistered construction engineers will be fined up to K200,000 while the engineers will face a K10,000 fine.
If their work is faulty, a commission of inquiry will be conducted into it.
This was revealed last Saturday at the Lae International Hotel where the Institute of Engineers of Papua New Guinea (IEPNG) conducted awareness on the Professional Engineers Registration (amended) Act passed by the last Parliament.
Chief executive officer for IEPNG Benedict Mick told engineers and company representatives during the awareness that all engineers should register to avoid the hefty fines.
“Companies and industries should now be aware that when this Act is in place, they should engage registered engineers only to do the job,” Mr Mick said.
He also added that there would be an “audit for registered engineers” carried out by IEPNG next March.
He said the final registered engineers list would be out on the IEPNG website and also distributed to companies.
Mr Mick said it had taken more than 20 years for IEPNG to make the amendments to the Act so that companies and engineers would have good partnership in their roles and responsibilities.
“The Act is a ‘win-win’ situation for the employers (companies and industries) and the employees (engineers) and this is basically to create partnership and mutual understanding,” Mr Mick highlighted.
He said the Act had also given power to the IEPNG board to set up commission of inquiries to investigate complaints launched by organisations on professional negligence in construction works.
Mr Mick said the commission of inquiry would then present the findings to the IEPNG board in accordance with the Commission of Inquiry Act for appropriate actions.