Labour to investigate
THE controller of the state of emergency, Police commissioner David Manning, has directed the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations to investigate reports of workers being terminated and laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The direction comes after the Labour Department received reports that a number of establishments laying off workers against an understanding of the tripartite working committee agreement made last week.
Manning urged employers to show some understanding in this difficult situation and allow the government to discuss and see how best to address the issue of businesses and employment and the welfare of citizens.
He said he appointed the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations secretary Ravu Vagi as an authorised officer to enable the department to monitor and investigate reports of companies terminating and laying off workers.
“This effort is to eradicate negative aspects of what can happen during this pandemic as any termination of workers can have a ripple effect on families and can further result in law and order issues and this is what we should try to manage,” Manning said.
2 comments
Thank you please for some of us working with companies, we were told to go to work, during the 14days lockdown. Also our employer has decided not to pay us for the 14 days lockdown. I believe as mentioned by Mr Ravu Vagi, on the 27th of March National newspaper, that employers are supposed to pay employees for the 14 days lockdown.However that has not eventuated.Now how are we supposed to support our families during this time of SOE and the lock down.Can the government intervene on this situation and assist.
Number of workers at Mainland Holdings Limited in Lae are laying off workers (made redundant) and have evacuated them from their workplace. Those working at Tablebirds farms were told to move out of the farms in just one week.
As for my case, after returning from a short course in Australia, a supervisor position in another farm was made redundant and the supervisor of that position is made to take my position.
As soon as I arrived, I was notified of my redundancy instead of the other supervisor.
Many of the workers have left but I left a copy of letter of appeal with the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations office in Lae and address it to the company.
I am now awaiting response.
Thank you in advance for your response.
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