Jobs badly needed

By PETER ESILA
THE Government has been urged to “do something immediately” to address the country’s high unemployment rate — after a big crowd competed for a few advertised vacancies at a hotel in Port Moresby last weekend.
“The crowd at The Stanley Hotel and Suites (on Saturday) is just an example of the desperation of our people to (find jobs),” Deputy Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa said.
“Papua New Guineans are hungry for employment, but the Government has not made employment conducive for its citizens.
“Annually, we have (hundreds of) young people graduating from universities and (tertiary) institutions but there is very little (job) opportunities available.”
After watching pictures of the big crowd at the Vision City Mega Mall car park in Port Moresby on Saturday who responded to an advertisement for a walk-in interview for jobs at The Stanley Hotel and Suites, he said it was a clear sign of “desperation”.
Tomuriesa urged Prime Minister James Marape and MPs to “open their eyes and see the real struggle our people are facing on a daily basis”.
He said during the tabling of the Supplementary Budget last year and Budget 2023, Marape and Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey told everyone that employment was increasing and that the country would continue to see more improvements.
Tomuriesa hopes that the Government can deliver on its promises.
“Porgera hasn’t opened yet. The Papua LNG continues to have issues. Wafi-Golpu is yet to set a concrete date for its opening,” he said.
“When will the Government seriously consider and review the unrealistic tax regimes imposed on industries that are killing the growth of businesses?
“How many new investors have come into PNG in the last three years? Nil. There’s nothing.
“With the high cost of living, increasing inflation, coupled with the Government’s failed home relief package of K1.2 billion (K610 million plus K590 million) that hasn’t been realised.” He said now was the time for action.
“Stop the big talk and begin to deal with the realistic issues of high basic food costs, high fuel costs, unemployment, school fee issues and many others,” he said.
“This Government has failed the country and its people big time.”
Marape said the Government would roll out a youth mobilisation programme to “address uneasiness and formal employment issues”.
He said the PNG Defence Force and the National Volunteer Service were involved in the intervention programme.