Workers jeer PNG PM over budget
By Norm Dixon
On November 24 in Port Moresby, 2000 angry trade unionists jeered Papua New Guinea's prime minister, Bill Skate, when he appeared to accept a petition from protest organisers.
The workers, mobilised by the PNG Trade Union Congress (PNGTUC), marched against severe anti-worker measures contained in the 1999 budget, which was passed by parliament later that day.
Public sector workers, including uniformed police, were strongly represented. This reflected the anger caused by the announcement that 7000 public sector workers will be sacked on January 1. The budget also signals a rapid move to privatise PNG's state assets and utilities.
Trade unions fear that the abolition of the Arbitration and Industrial Conciliation Commission, the Minimum Wages Board, the National Training Council and other bodies that regulate and monitor workers' wages and conditions, and facilitate collective bargaining and negotiation, will lead to wages being slashed.
Workers also demanded that the introduction of a value-added tax (PNG's GST) be rescinded.
PNGTUC leader Clemence Kanau told the workers that the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the international communication workers' unions and the US longshore union were standing by for the PNGTUC's call to "black ban" PNG.
The budget severely cut higher education spending and abolished 15 educational and research bodies. The funds "saved" will be transferred to other departments to promote investment by foreign companies in PNG's valuable minerals and resources industries.