Govt receives petition from union over super levy, policy

THE Government has received a petition from the PNG Trade Union Congress on its concerns over the “dominant industry player levy” and the “no jab, no job”.
Labour and Industrial Relations Minister Tomait Kapili who received the petition yesterday said the dominant player levy was being shelved until next year.
He said the Government would decide if it should be introduced at all.
Kapili said the government’s stand on the no-jab-no-job policy was clear – that vaccination was voluntary.
“We leave it to the employer and employee,” Kapili said.
Kapili said he would be passing the petition to Prime Minister James Marape and Cabinet.
PNGTUC acting general secretary Anton Sekum said the two issues were of national interest not just to the members and affiliates but to the entire workforce.
“We consider the dominant industry player levy as destructive and draconian that will destroy retirement savings value for workers regardless of whether you are a union member or not,” Sekum said.
“The ongoing issue of no-jab-no-job is undemocratic and has no legal basis for employers to implement at their workplaces.
“Both policy decisions are deemed as acts of deprivation of workers’ liberty, discrimination against all workers, deprivation of workers’ human dignity and a worst form of injustice to all workers and their families.”