PNG Nurses Association (PNGNA)

“I am very proud to witness your achievement. This is one of the best-managed industrial organizations in the country. I saw the Nurses Association grow since I became the Registrar in 2001.

“I saw this place grow into what it is today and it is because of you the management, and I congratulate you, the national treasurer and you the vice president together with Mr Kebai,” Ms Saleu commented.

The luncheon's purpose was to appreciate the media for heralding the many positive changes in the union since the current executives took office.

Mr Kebai, on behalf of his executives from the four regions of the country together with the 4000 members, thanked all stakeholders who had supported them throughout the year, especially the Department of Health, DPM, Labour Department through its Registration Office and the Media. 

Additionally, they were mandated to repay a loan of almost K1 million that they had taken out from Credit Corporation using the PNGNA. The payment was to be made within seven days of the court order. The order was issued on 6^th  November, 2023.

Members of the PNGNA had been paying a service fee of K75 to PHA Limited for medical insurance cover. These were not remitted since June 2021.  PHA Limited had failed to pay the default interest of five per cent per month.

The payment is per the Memorandum of Agreement for 2021-2023 and the funding comes as a result of a sit-in protest staged by members of the PNG Nurses Association that lasted nine working days. The payment will be implemented by pay 26 this year.

The nurses association announced that the nurses’ industrial award will be implemented by pay 26 of this year.

Frederick Kebai, President of the PNG Nurses Association in a press conference this afternoon, announced that the nurses association have received a favorable response from the government departments of Treasury, Finance and Personnel Management. 

President Kebai, in announcing the success of the nurses’ sit-in protest and results of the negotiations, acknowledged the support of the Public Service Conciliation and Arbitration Tribunal.

National president of PNGNA, Frederick Kebai, made this known following a public services conciliation and arbitration tribunal yesterday (November 16^th) at Waigani.

The tribunal was attended by PNGNA executives and their lawyer and representatives from the departments of personnel management and health.

Representatives from the departments of Treasury and Finance were not present.

Today, leaders of the association met with the Chairman of the Public Service Conciliation and Arbitration Tribunal to discuss a way forward.

Executives of the PNG Nurses Association – President Frederick Kebai and General Secretary Gibson Siune, then held a press conference to inform the nurses on the outcomes of the discussions.

Parties present at the compulsory conference with the Chairman of the Public Service Conciliation and Arbitration Tribunal were PNG Nurses Association team, representatives from the Departments of Personnel Management and Health.

PNGTUC Assistant General Secretary, Anton Sekum said there is no provision in the Industrial Organization Act that requires the Industrial Registrar’s prior consent for a sit-in protest to go ahead.

“A sit-in protest can happen any time except for strike actions which will require the Industrial Registrar to oversee the conduct of the secret ballot.

“Quick fact checks by the DPM Secretary, Tais Sansan and media reports on her misleading headline about the legality of the Nurses sit-in process would have done all parties justice.

Secretary Taies Sansan said the state has not been informed of any industrial dispute or a call for withdrawal of labour registered by the Industrial Registrar and there was no secret ballot conducted by the nurses and therefore the notice issued for withdrawal of labour in the media is illegal and improper.

She said, the Government is doing all it can to address issues contained in the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed by DPM, PNGNA and the Department of Health on 25^th of August 2020.