Oil firm raises workers’ gripes at headquarters

 OUTSTANDING issues raised by Puma Energy workers’ have been raised at its headquarters in Geneva and Singapore, a union official says.

Papua New Guinea Energy Workers’ Association secretary general Santee Margis said officials from the IndustriAll Global Union who recently visited PNG had raised the issues with Puma Energy headquarters.

“IndustriAll personnel last contacted with me about a week ago that they have made presentations to Puma offices in Singapore and in Geneva,” Margis said.

“We have support of the International Transport Federation office in Sydney. That shows the importance of these issues affecting the workers since the takeover from InterOil and now with the oil refinery closed for over three months.” 

Outstanding issues include : 

• Entitlements owed during their tenure of employment with InterOil;
• issues raised to the InterOil Ltd management since 2010 and 2011;
• review employment terms and conditions to comply with international oil and gas standards and the PNG Employment Act 1978;
• review and implementation of a one-line salary structure to meet international oil and gas standards, and, 
• Direct negotiation to agree with PNGEWA for union members.