Maritime and transport workers get 18% pay hike

 PAPUA New Guinea Maritime and Transport Workers Union, including its rank and file members, have welcomed the signing of agreement on 18 % wage increase over three years.

A 6 % increase will be effected for the first, second and third year, starting this year. The other 6 % will be backdated to beginning of last year, the press release from the union stated yesterday.

It stated the signing of agreement last Nov 25 between employers federations and the union supersedes the 2007 agreement which lapsed on July 25 and concluded the three-year agreement.

Under the new agreement, an annual four- week leave after 12 months was improved to 4 weeks after eight months of service.

This included an industrial allowance increase from K7.50 a week previously to K8 a week, and stevedoring/lashing K1 an hour loading increased to K2 an hour while other conditions remained as per the 2007 agreement.

“The wage increase obtained would certainly ease off financial pressures that have been faced by every body especially with the increases in the cost of goods and services nationwide which continues to be the trend every year,” the statement said.

The signed agreement is currently with the department of labour and industrial relations, the registrar’s office for registration by the industrial registrar.