In Papua New Guinea (PNG), there have been many reforms taking place in various government departments, such as health and education, which have placed a significant burden on the implementers, including teachers.
While there have been pay increases for teachers in recent years, the same cannot be said for Members of Parliament (MPs), who seem to be getting raises almost every year.
This article aims to explore the issue of MPs' salaries in PNG and question the need for frequent increases while lower-level public servants struggle.
Reforms and Burden on Implementers
The reforms in PNG, particularly in the fields of health and education, have been challenging for those tasked with implementing them.
Teachers, in particular, have been under immense pressure due to limited resources and increased workloads.
These reforms are aimed at improving the quality of education and healthcare services in the country, but the burden on the implementers cannot be ignored.
Pay Increase for Teachers
In 2013, there was commendable news for teachers as a pay increase was announced by Dr Puka Temu, the Public Service Minister in the government of Peter O'Neill.
However, this increase was backdated to January 2013 and paid just before Christmas, which raised eyebrows among the public.
The question then arises: why do MPs get frequent raises while other public servants have to wait for years for an increase?
MPs' Frequent Raises
A closer look at the history of pay increases for MPs in PNG reveals a concerning trend.
In November 2010, Sir Michael Somare's government unanimously approved a massive 52% pay rise just before Christmas, which was followed by another 7% increase in November 2013, backdated to January 2013.
These frequent raises for MPs raise questions about their necessity and whether MPs truly deserve such increases.
Unjustified Increases
It is hard to understand why MPs in PNG receive such frequent raises, especially when lower-level public servants, such as teachers and health workers, struggle with limited salaries.
The massive increases in MPs' salaries sustain their lavish lifestyles, but do they really need these raises?
The government has also announced separate increases for public sector workers, including MPs, but it is unclear whether this increase applies to community school teachers and community health workers.
Have a look at what teachers in countries like Fiji are getting compared to PNG teachers.
Comparison of Salaries
A comparison of the salaries of MPs and lower-level public servants in PNG paints a stark picture.
Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament, DPM, and Opposition Leader earn significantly higher salaries compared to classroom teachers, government ministers, and provincial governors.
In fact, the average salary of a PNG classroom teacher is compounded to be only K21,525 for the year 2014, while MPs earn much higher salaries.
Final words...
In conclusion, the issue of MPs' salaries in PNG raises concerns about the frequency of raises and the disparity between the salaries of MPs and lower-level public servants.
While reforms are taking place in various government departments, and public servants, particularly teachers, are burdened with increased workloads and limited resources, it seems unfair for MPs to receive frequent raises to sustain their lavish lifestyles.
It is time for the government to reconsider the justification for these raises and ensure that lower-level public servants are also fairly compensated for their hard work.
