Basil prioritises workers’ rights
By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
HIGH on the agenda for newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil are workers’ rights and conditions, job creation, infrastructure development, implementation of electrification partnerships and service delivery.
While thanking Prime Minister James Marape for his confidence in him, Basil, who is also the Minister for Planning and Monitoring, said the appointment of fellow United Labour Party (ULP) member Lekwa Gure as Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations encompassed a range of substantive issues that were at the heart of the ULP policy platform.
“I make a commitment above all else, that I will stand up for the rights of the working men and women of our country,” Basil said.
“Our party represents the voice of workers upon whose labour and backs this nation as it continues to be built.
“These are fathers and mothers, breadwinners and homemakers who should not be ignored and taken for granted.
“I will be your voice in cabinet, and I will be your crusader for better pay and conditions in the workplace,” he said.
“Very importantly, I and my ULP members will keep attention on better service delivery around the country, particularly in remote and rural areas. The way that we create jobs in our country, the way that we build more businesses, is buying, creating the environment for business to grow.
“I will be taking the fight forward to have better allocation of resources to build infrastructure that businesses can use to harvest, collect and to transport goods to market. As a stronger voice in Cabinet and in Parliament, with the support of our Government, I will work to open up the country through Connect PNG using an integrated service delivery model that focuses on roads, bridges with electrification and telecommunications.”
Basil said he would work with the Government to push for faster implementation of the PNG Electrification partnership that was signed at Apec in 2018.
“The Government is committed to delivering power to most of our population by the year 2030. With support of our Government, I will work with key stakeholders to improve access to clean, safe water right around our country.”
10 comments
Deputy PM, congratulation for your new role.
Salary and wage taxation is killing PNG citizens who are working. Income tax is paid and is very high, than GST is paid again, this is unfair. The retirement saving are also taxed very high which should not be. How can a middle income earner prosper in life, we have been robbed.
I believe you will look into this.
You lost your opportunity when you were Pangu Pati Leader so why are you campaigning. Your dreams are mere dreams, sorry
Inflation in goods and services prices is indirectly a pay cut.
Our resources sectors should be funding the annual budget by now. Mining, gas, oil, logging and fisheries alot going on in the country. The present Government under the watch of our good Honourable PM James Marape and like minded members are on track to reset the economy. Hopefully tax burden on its citizens (workers & SMEs) will be seriously consider so citizens can save more and improve living standards. God bless PNG
Sam Basil, congratulation on your appointment as Deputy PM on behalf of the people of Sakita and Togaho villages in the Sohe District of Oro Province. What we would like to see is that you achieve at least some your priorities as mentioned during this short period of time.
Reduce income tax and remove tax on our superannuation and workers will make sure ULP returns to power in 2022.
Hope you are serious Basil,otherwise it’s all mere words just like all other previous MPs.You should seriously look at the Minimum Wages and the high Income Tax which is killing the working class.
The Govt is double dipping on the working class. Very high income tax and GST, yet the people get barely nothing in return. Look at the deteriorating physical infrastructure right across the country. It is clearly visible but yet it is unseen by the politicians . School Fees are High. Run down Health facilities and the list goes on.
I hope ULP can look into this and do something about it otherwise it is just another of those political rhetoric echoed just for the occasion.
Capitalisation is ripping of indigenous citizens. STOP and do away with GOLIATS way to rule simply follow David’s simple customary and Christianity ways.save our workers..
Just do Tax free on all workers salaries and nusfunds.
Otherwise it will be another song on your con album.
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