Public servants still waiting for 3pc raise

AT the beginning of the year, Secretary of Personnel Management John Kali announced that all civil servants would receive a pay increase of about 3 per cent from Jan 1, 2017.
This has not been effected and public servants are still waiting for an official circular from him.
The delay is outrageous, especially with the high cost of living.
As it is, the 3 per cent increase is less than in past years.
The yearly pay increase should be parallel with the inflation rate.
The Government has let the public servants down who work very hard only to be get a slap on the face.
People now have to dig deeper to put food on the table.
Worse, the Government had made it more difficult for them and the general public by increasing certain taxes.
And it is now also taxing some civil servants who are receiving housing or accommodation allowances.
Why on earth is the Government being so tough on the working class?
Can’t it look at other ways of raising revenue?
It is insane to marginalise the people when the country is rich in minerals, oil and others.
Many of the Government’s decisions are driving the people towards poverty.
What has the massive K3 billion loan done to improve the lives of the people? Nothing.
Any decision that the Government make should take the people’s interests into consideration.
The Government has failed miserably.
We are heading into the second quarter of the year and we want to know when will the 3 per cent salary increase be implemented.

Jeffsatu,
Port Moresby