100 days on wage review lapsed, says Lae mayor

By PISAI GUMAR
LAE City Lord Mayor James Khay has voiced concern over ‘bottom-bracket’ workers still being underpaid despite Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s directive to review the minimum wage policy.
O’Neill last year directed Labour and Industrial Relations Minister Martin Aini to appoint a task force to review the Minimum Wages 2008 policy.
“The 100 days for the Labour and Industrial Relations to appoint a task force to review the policy on Minimum Wages 2008 has lapsed and we have not heard anything,” Khay said.
O’Neill had said the bottom bracket workforce wage rate should be increased from K2.29 per hour to K3.50.
He said the task should be done within 100 days as a large part of the workforce had been complaining about being underpaid for many years.
The bottom bracket workforce includes cleaners, tea boys, drivers, security guards, hotel and nightclub workers, rural workers employed in fisheries, logging and agriculture.
“The government needs to address this minimum wages issue critically as it is a crucial factor affecting the well-being of the tireless and committed workforce living in settlements and rural areas,” Khay said.
“The K2.29 hourly rate for 14 working days comes to K256.48 as gross pay. However, the amount is taxed by the government, before school fees, GST for food items, clothes, bank savings, medical expenses, bus fares all have taxes attached.
“The backbone of this country is being ripped off by their own government which says it is government for the people by the people, but there is nothing concrete to prove this to the cleaners, tea boys and drivers.”