27 Aug 2002

Top PNG civil servants facing big cuts in salaries

7:22 pm on 27 August 2002

Top public servants and politicians in Papua New Guinea will have 15 percent cut from their salaries as part of government efforts to reduce costs.

The public service minister, Dr Puku Temu, says the government decided on the move after the outright rejection by unions to a previous decision to cut all public servant wages by 10 percent.

In addition to the 15 percent wage cut to senior public servants and all parliamentarians, Dr Temu has ordered a freeze on all recruitment.

The Public Service Ministry is also looking to clamp down on unauthorised absences from work and excessive use of luxury cars and government vehicles.

Dr Temu has instructed the Personnel Management Secretary to issue Special General Orders which are enforceable by law, to effect the new restrictions.