Posted on PNG Loop
Prime Minister James Marape says there will not be any salary increases for politicians and senior public servants in the next few years until the PNG economy is back on track.
This will be his position as a member of the Salaries and Remuneration Committee (SRC).
Marape said this after being sworn in as member of the SRC today.
The official swearing-in ceremony of three new members of the Salaries and Remuneration Committee was held at Government House and signed off by Governor General Sir Bob Dadae.
They included Prime Minister Marape, Public Service Minister Wesley Nukundj and Deputy Secretary Policy & Reforms of the Department of Personnel Management, William Hapipai.
Following the signing, Prime Minister Marape announced that his contribution to the committee will be to restrain increases to Members of Parliament and public sector leaders given the current state of the economy.
He said if he had it his way, he would give a 20 percent pay cut.
“I’m not looking to participate in a discussion for an increase, we are already paid quite substantially high, relatively speaking, to the rest of the public service and the public service structure. So pay increase is not in the interest for me as a member to the committee, but trying to balance so that no one is paid much higher,” clarified Marape.
Marape said they will also look to find a balance to avoid huge discrepancies in the pay structure.
“But more importantly there is a huge discrepancy, some are earning top range salaries and some are below and these are leaders we need to give them rightful respect but I think all salaries should be paid at almost an equal level right across,” he said.
“This is something that I’ll be contributing to this very important forum along with the Public Service Minister who is set and ready to go to ensure there is a balance and harmony in the various pay structures that we have.”
The Salaries and Remuneration Committee is the only constitutional body that determines and authorises the different levels of salaries and benefits to all public sector leaders.
It is comprised of:
-The Speaker of Parliament (Job Pomat) and his nominee Deputy Speaker, Jeffrey Komal
-The Prime Minister, James Marape, and his nominee Public Service Minister, Wesley Nukundj
-Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika and his nominee Justice Stephen Kassman
-Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch and his nominee (Shadow Treasurer, Ian Ling-Stuckey)
-Secretary of the Department of Personnel Management Taies Sansan and her nominee William Hapipai
-Secretary of the Department of Labour and his nominee
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