Minimum wage

Minister for Labour & Employment Kessy Sawang says there have been a lot of calls from workers in the country to increase the Minimum Wage which is currently at K3.50 per hour which was set in 2014 when the last minimum wage review was undertaken.

“As you’ve heard our Prime Minister James Marape who had informed our country that the Minimum Wage Review will be one of the key things that we are going to do this year,” Minister Sawang said.

The directive comes in the wake of a meeting between Prime Minister Marape and Labor and Employment Minister Kessy Sawang, where discussions revolved around various challenges faced by the department.

“The minimum wage issue has been outstanding since 2014.

“I have instructed Minister Sawang that the minimum wage of K3.50 per hour should be reviewed to align with the escalating cost of living and changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Labour and Industrial Relations Minister, Mehrra Kipefa, says there are suggestions to increase the minimum wage to K5 however, the board responsible for it will not meet until it has a new chairman.

While some companies comply with it, others do not and the Labour and Industrial Relations is looking at creating dialogue with the Internal revenue Commission.

“Most are saying we are paying tax, but we’ll talk to IRC to which companies comply with annual return statements so they must at least comply with the standard minimum wages to their workers,” said Kipefa.