PNG MPs Salary: Why Are MPs Getting Raises While Lower-Level Public Servants Struggle?

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.

Fighting The White Collar Criminals and Fraudsters in Papua New Guinea, No Room For Complacency

Transparency International’s most recent survey of global corruption (2014) revealed that PNG was 145th of 175 nations in the World, with the 175th being the most corrupt. In the Asia Pacific region, PNG was placed 21^st with North Korea ranked 25^th - placing PNG just 4 places away from a nation described as most authoritarian (dictatorial) regime in the 21^st century.

This number captured informed views of analysts, business people and experts who have worked and lived in PNG. No one can dispute intelligence and experience of these experts unless significant improvements are evident within public service and law and justice sector.

What is important here is the reality that decision makers (politicians) and public service machinery (public servants) are putting PNG amongst the worst of corrupt nations on Earth. 

In order to improve the country’s ranking, first political leaders have to take the lead. That means that the Cabinet has to either set up anticorruption bodies, empower existing fraud investigation squad or both. Task Force Sweep – the anticorruption body set up by Peter O’Neill in August 2011 - was established in good faith. 

Any political initiatives for fighting corruption have to be formally sanctioned through the Constitution and given legal powers to both investigate and prosecute alleged white collar criminals. It must not be subjective to Cabinet ministers who are likely to withdraw support when they are investigated.

Independence of such graft fighting body is important. This will stop what happened to Task Force Sweep where the prime minister disbanded it when he was the subject of their investigation. Recent report revealed that this anticorruption body is stuffed off funds and on the verge of closing all its investigations. This is a direct blow as far as fighting corruption is concerned. 

The government has to remain true to the effort to reduce white collar crimes and fraudulent activities in the public sector by releasing K7 million funding for this year (2014). On the same token, the government of Peter O'Neill has to increase the funding for this effective but underfunded anticorruption watchdog. 

Second, public service departmental heads and secretaries will have to be appointed on merit instead of appointed by political affiliation. Questions have to be asked now to ascertain appointees to every government ministerial position. Wantoks and political allies must not sit at those positions if they do not have the experiences and credentials.

This is where corruption takes hold of government systems . To reduce fraudulent activities in public sector offices, a recruitment system has to be set up in future to recruit eligible candidates from within and overseas who can deliver on policy provisions and delivery of goods and services to cities, towns and villages in the country.

Meanwhile, a proper review of ‘who’ is doing ‘what’ is long overdue, starting with the prime minister’s office including every position within the 32 ministries in the government.

So has PNG seen an improvement in the fight against corruption? Regardless of public and international perception on corruption, there is some signs of improvement. Task Force Sweep had arrested over 50 people and recouped K60 million. 15 MPs are currently under investigation for white collar crimes and corruption: 3 are found guilty;

- PM for Pomio Paul Tiensten is convicted of ‘making a footnote on a project proposal that compelled the officers of National Planning to bypass the lawful processes and procedures in making payment’ of K10 million to Travel Air  and is serving 9 years in Bomana Prison

- Gulf Governor Havila Kavo is given 3 years prison sentence for has been found guilty of misusing K130 000 from a trust account belonging to the people of Kikori district for infrastructure.

- MP for Komo-Magarima Francis Potape found guilty by the National Court of misusing K330,000 of public funds.

Many Papua New Guineans thought maximum sentence of 10 years for misappropriation of public funds did not match the amount of money these white collar criminals and fraudsters siphoned. But the fact is that justice was served. That is what matters the most.

Task Force Sweep has to keep the momentum. The government has to release funds for it to operate. Not doing so means that Peter O'Neill and Leo Dion's government are starving a vital investigative body to death, thus nursing corruption. 

#PNG governor jailed, MPs facing corruption charges. Via @Post_Courier pic.twitter.com/3PNKtNQlGK

— Stefan Armbruster (@StefArmbruster) December 10, 2014