The PNG Teachers Association (PNGTA) anticipates a response to their demand today.
General Secretary Ugwailubu Mowana says the Chief Secretary to Government’s Office and other relevant Government authorities are expected to respond today following their demand on Friday.
On Friday, the PNGTA rejected the Government’s plan to pay teachers the promised 3 percent pay increase as fortnightly instalments with this schedule;
- The 2017 outstanding component of the wards will be settled in 2018, over 24 fortnights.
- 2018 outstanding award component in the agreement will be settled in 2019 on the similar equation of settling by instalments,
- The 2019 component will be paid in a similar manner in 2020, by instalments.
The pay increase agreement was signed in 2016 for the period of 2017 to 2019, following high costs of living and the extra workload shouldered due to increased number of students following the Government’s Tuition Fee Free Policy.
However, when 2017 commenced, the promise was never fulfilled.
The 57,000-plus teachers throughout the country, through the PNGTA, now want what was promised to them, but in lump sums, over a period of at least 4 to 5 fortnights.
They have indicated industrial action if the Government’s response is not favourable.
Mowana says Government authorities are now in a meeting and will advise him of their response sometime this afternoon.
(General Secretary Ugwailubu Mowana)
