Union leader: Labour slack

By GABRIEL LAHOC
MANY companies are not practising the labour and industrial laws because the Labour Department is too slack in implementing and upholding their own laws.
This is according to Lae-based veteran unionist Tom Vevo, after meeting with the striking workers of Frabelle PNG on Monday who stopped work over unfair working conditions.
Vevo, who has 39 years of experience as a unionist, blamed the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations for turning a blind eye to Papua New Guineans who are being treated as plantation workers in the modern day PNG where businesses and industries are thriving.
He said in Lae alone, the industrial hub of the country, the department was yet to come out publicly to sue companies who had broken labor and industrial laws.
“Most companies are not abiding by the laws, it’s obvious in the reports and evidence of affected workers,” he said.
One law which is popularly not adhered to is the yearly issuing of tax receipts to employees, which will show on paper who much money they have been paying in taxes.
Supporting the stance by new minister for trade, commerce and industry, Charles Abel, to clean up the labor system, Vevo appealed to the new government and the minister to seriously address this area if they are serious about the welfare of Papua New Guineans.
Meanwhile, the striking workers have met with the division of labor and industrial relations and Vevo and are planning to meet with the company tomorrow.
They have also written to certain authorities including the fisheries and Lord Mayor James Khay with the strike to end tomorrow pending a positive response from the company.