CPL wins employer award

 THE CPL Group was given the best private sector employer award by PNG Human Resource Institute (HRI) in its best performance awards ceremony in Port Moresby.

PNG HRI said the criteria for the award included most innovative company, Nil (significant) industrial relations cases 2012, good performance management system, impact in the community and most preferred employer. 

What started as a small City Pharmacy outlet 25 years ago by founders Mahesh Patel and the late Allan Jarvis has now evolved as the biggest retail company in Papua New Guinea.

 These days, the group operates the Stop N shop, BonCafe, Homemaker, Paradise Cinema and will soon launch a new pizza brand Eagle Boys Pizza.

Human resource manager Andu Rawali said: “The award is more than a recognition of our company’s human resource excellence. 

“It is a tangible acknowledgment of our company’s contribution to the growth, development and professional nurturing of our employees.

“This HRI award is an endorsement of the efforts of our company and the progress we have worked to achieve.

“CPL recognises that the foundation of its retail strength lies in the diversity, commitment and performance of its employees. 

“We have to continue improving ourselves, in our retail business and in our people practices … that’s how we get to where we are today. 

“It is good to have hard work recognised as well as how far we have come in terms of range in the last 25 years … it is a great talking point with customers and stakeholders and helps give them confidence in what we do.” 

Among the winners were Bank of Papua New Guinea for best public service entity award and PNG Ports as the best state owned enterprise awardee.