Allowances raised
The National, Wednesday 21st November, 2012
SALARIES, allowances, wages, overtime, leave fares, superannuation contributions, superannuation payments, and contract gratuities will increase in 2013 by K688.4 million.
This overall growth reflects a range of factors, including the following:
l 2013 is the final year of the current three-year agreement between the government and the Public Employees Association which provide a 7.5% annual increase for eligible public servants;
l Costs associated with pay agreements negotiated with the workers not covered by the PEA agreement, include teachers, health workers and members of the disciplined forces. Health workers will receive slightly over K75 million collectively; and
l To enhance transparency, the 2013 budget will explicitly identify funding of K264.8 million in personnel emoluments for all statutory authorities.
Previously, this funding was appropriated in goods and services. The transfer of funding from goods and services to identify personnel emoluments will assist in improving the service delivery funding process in forward year estimates when indexation is done for programmes.
In 2013, personnel emoluments for national departments will increase by K312.9 million or 23.1%.
Apart from meeting the cost of existing wage agreements, major drivers of this growth include :
l K20.1 million held in Division 207 for outstanding allowances for health extension workers;
l K25 million held in Division 207 for provincial health authority staff grants for Milne Bay, Eastern Highlands and Western Highlands;
l K30 million in Division 207 for allowancesfor health workers employed by the hospital management service;
l K50 million for the recruitment of 994 additional health workers by the hospital management service;
l K18.7 million for the Department of Defence for the recruitment and training of new personnel; and
l K14.1 million for the Royal PNG Constabulary including funding for the recruitment of 400 new officers.
l K12.9 million for the Department of Education for the recruitment and training of new staff and teachers.