Union congratulates Malabag

By JUNIOR UKAHA
THE Police Association of Papua New Guinea was the first union to congratulate its former president, Michael Malabag, on his victory in the 2012 national elections.
Association president Lowa Tambua yesterday congratulated his former union boss and Moresby Northwest parliamentarian Malabag for winning the election and being given the Health and HIV Aids ministry.
Tambua in a statement said Malabag was a very capable leader and had advocated a lot for workers welfare when he was the Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress president.
“The association, on behalf of its members and sister unions in the country, acknowledges and congratulate you for being appointed minister for health and HIV/AIDS by the O’Neill Government,” Tambua said.
He said as a former unionist and chairman of the Public Employees Association, it would have been better for him to get the public services and labour ministries.
“If there is any reshuffle in the future, we propose Malabag be awarded one of these two ministries,” he said.
The association said the prime minister could expect the best from Malabag as health minister.
The association urged Malabag to tell parliament and other stakeholders about the significance of union movements in the country.
“Trade unions are an important pillar of a thriving democracy,” he said.
 Tambua said.
“Therefore, it would be proper for government to provide funding to each registered union to improve their capacity,” he said.
Tambua said through capacity-building unions work would be elevated and have a positive impact on private and public workers throughout the country.