stop work protest

However Public Schools were closed as most students were kept home by parents over safety concerns.

Bus stops were empty in the morning with residents taking precaution making their way to work.

Some companies organized pick up vehicles for their employees while those who made their own way, went to work casually dressed.

By lunch time, it was business as usual for most city residents.

In Wewak town, PMV buses came to a standstill, as operators chose to participate in the nationwide sit-in protest.

UPNG Acting Chancellor Dr Nicholas Mann said today that the stop work by the staff is illegal as it is not properly sanctioned by the University and the Industrial Registrar.

The purpose of their planned withdrawal of teaching and assessment component of work is due to their outstanding 7.5 percent pay increment for all public servants, commencing in 2012.

Dr Mann said they’re in constant dialogue with responsible authorities and those concerned since 2013 and are working to resolve the issue.

This follows the suspension of classes due to precautionary measures following the planned nationwide stop work protest by civil society groups today.

Minister for Education Nick Kuman is calling on all heads of schools and institutions to immediately return to classes and not to take heed of information on social media to cancel classes.

Kuman said schools in both NCD and in the other provinces must not give in and be influenced and intimidated by politically-motivated individuals and organisations.

Minister for Education Nick Kuman called on leaders of various civil society groups, who are going on social media to gather support for their planned protest, to leave schools out of their plans.

Kuman urged all heads of schools and institutions to immediately return to classes and not to take heed of such information on social media to cancel classes.

He said the education minister is the only authority. “There is no other authority and is deemed illegal as civil society groups have no power or authority to make decisions for schools’ operations.