Becoming slaves in the mines of our own land

 IN support of a letter by “Mine Slaves” titled “Nationals should be running Ok Tedi” (Dec 2).

This is an issue in the minds of technical trade personnel in PNG and no one in the government  sees that cry. 

We become cheap slaves in our own country of riches and no one in any of our government is realising what is happening. 

One factor that can help improve our living standards and poverty is to promote competent nationals to high positions and increase technical trade personnel wages.

I  am a tradesman and recently left Western Australia from an iron mine after a year as an expatriate like foreigners to PNG mines. 

Unfortunately, I was paid as a simple tradesman the same rate I get in PNG but  the  difference  was it was in dollars. 

All the bills were paid by me and not the Australian company that employed or hired me.

My training, experience and skills obtained here were better than the expatriates’ who come into PNG mines. 

It is not criticism but it is the fact from my experience.

Late last year, that iron mine had an iron price drop and instead of laying off their contractors and keep us because we were hired as expats, the mine company laid Papua New Guineans off and without pay.  

I left because I did not want to use up all my savings if I stayed longer. 

Papua New Guineans are slaves everywhere and nothing is happening for their  technical and qualified people.

Labour and employment administration have been a sleeping giant for a long time and it is about time for them to wake up.

Life Mine Slave

Chimbu