Delay in payment must change: Pomat

PARLIAMENT Speaker Job Pomat wants to change the way allowances are paid to workers.
The Speaker said allowances for those engaged in services should be paid before work was done and not after as had been the practice.
He wants allowances to be paid in advance to avoid problems like the ransacking of Parliament in Port Moresby last week.
He said advance payments would minimise issues of frustration and anger as seen in last week’s case which involved members of the Apec security task force.
“There is no reason why people have to be paid after completing the task as has been the practice in the country. The allowances are for meals and incidentals while on a particular mission or duty,” Pomat said.
“Experiences of the past like the national elections have indicated the state failed to settle outstanding allowance and that has forced them to do what they did.
“I now call on the Government to fix the issue of allowance and that is to have the allowances paid ahead of people going out to do the work.
“I have advised the clerk that if anyone is going out on a job then he or she must be paid the allowances first, if not then I advised the staff not to go and do the work.
“The attack (in parliament) is a serious issue that must not be repeated.”