Pay in the bank for teachers

National

By GLENDA AWIKIAK
THE three percent pay increase for teachers was credited into their bank accounts yesterday, according to officials.
Teaching Services Commission Chairman Baran Sori said this payment dates back to between Jan 1, 2017, and this month.
He said this was not a one-off payment but would be spread over a six-pay period as of June 20 to Aug 31, starting with pay 13 yesterday until pay 18 on Aug 31.
The agreed schedule of the payment iare:

  • The first quarter payment of 2017 (Jan 1 to March 31) will be paid on Aug 31, which is pay 18;
  • The second quarter of 2017 (April 1-June 30) will be paid on Aug 17, pay 17;
  • The third quarter of 2017 (July 1-Sept 30) will be made on Aug 3, pay 16;
  • The fourth quarter of 2017 (Oct 1-Dec 31) will be paid on July 20, pay 15;
  • The first quarter of 2018 (Jan 1-March 30) will be paid on July 6, pay 14; and
  • The second quarter of 2018 (April 1- June 20) was paid yesterday, pay 13.

“This salary fixation agreement has also included teachers who have resigned or retired by the end of 2017,” Sori said.
“The National Executive Council approved that the three per cent rise should be in the teachers’ accounts on pay 13 (fortnight ending June 20).”
PNG Teachers’ Association general secretary Ugwailubu Mowana said it was an honour that the government had considered the teachers and approved the payment despite the country’s current difficult economic situation.
Public Service Minister Elias Kapavore had announced earlier that Cabinet had directed Treasury to provide funds for the public sector awards involving annual pay rises of 3 per cent for 2017, one for 2018 and one for 2019.
There are altogether 120,000 public servants. Teachers are the largest group and will receive the awards first.
Next are members of the disciplined services, law and justice sector and revenue-raising agencies.
The final group are the health workers, plus the remaining public servants and State agencies.