Minimum wage warning out

 By HELEN TARAWA

EMPLOYERS have been warned to comply with the national minimum wage.

Labour Department Secretary Mary Morola said the minimum wage the Government currently had “is a safety net”.

“I would like to see that employers comply with at least the national minimum wage. This is for unskilled workers,” he said.

“It’s not for people who are experienced and qualified and should be paid more. The minimum wage is equal remuneration in terms of the kind of workload to compensate your input and the output you get for the company and organisation you work for. 

“That should be one of the areas we will be looking at in terms of strengthening the national minimum wage.” 

She said the labour market must meet the demand in the market.

“We need to meet the labour market demand so that in training and institutions, that we deliver the critical and skills shortage in the labour market, and therefore train towards meeting that,” she said. 

Morola and 10 other heads of departments signed their contracts at Government House yesterday.

They are Dr Vele Pat Ila’ava (Agriculture and Livestock) for four years; Betty Palaso (Commissioner General of the Internal Revenue Commission) for five years; Roko Koloma (National Statistician) for three years; Philip Eledume as chairman of the Central Supply and Tenders Board for three years;  Philip Samar as managing director of the Mineral Resources Authority for three years; Andrew Posong, provincial administrator for Manus for four years; Michael Kape as provincial administrator of Milne Bay for four years; William Hosea as provincial administrator for West New Britain for four  years; Henry Norm as provincial administrator for West Sepik for four years; and Angori Wewerang as the director of the PNG Institute of Public Administration.