PPL addresses petition

 By HELEN TARAWA
THE PNG Power Ltd management has stopped an insurance cover for its workers and will refund the deductions made from their salaries.
The workers had complained this week that they were not consulted by management about the insurance cover provided by Pacific Assurance Group.
The staff insurance cover was among the list of grievances presented in a petition to the company executive management, the PNG Energy Workers Association and the board.
In a letter to staff union president Eddie Gisa, the company informed the workers that the insurance matter would not be pursued further until all concerns raised were addressed by the board or the Ministerial Review Committee.
The company in response to a demand for salary review said the 2014 payment would be made later this year in accordance with Enterprise Agreement and as cash flow permitted.
On the fibre optic installation, the company said it was being suspended pending a review of safety and other issues.
On the workers’ demand for the sacking of the entire board and investigation into the insurance cover issue, the company said it was a matter for the Minister for Public Enterprises and State Investment to address.
Acting chief executive officer Chris Bais said the management met with the workers yesterday to inform them of the company’s response to the petition.
Bais said PPL was a large organisation which faced challenges such as the collection of payments from customers.