Salaries Fixed

Public Service Classification in Papua-New Guinea

THE long-awaited classification of the Public Service of Papua and New Guinea was published in the official Gazette in Port Moresby on July 14.

It covers 11 Departments, a number of which have branches. The Treasury, for example, has three branches —Stores and Transport, Printing, and Posts and Tele communications. The Government Sec retary has five branches—Central Administration, Administrator’s Personal Staff, Public Service, Native Labour and Police and Prisons.

All amounts given hereunder are in Aus tralian currency.

More than 350 positions have been clas sified. Salaries for heads of Departments range between £l,OOO and £1,500 per an num, while heads of branches get from around £650 to £l,OOO. Specialists and professional men range between £6OO and £1,000; clerks from about £350 to £6OO.

District Officers range from £650 to £1,000; ADO’s between 600 and £650; patrol officers from £3OO to £600; medical assis tants from £330 to £625.

In addition, all persons in this public service receive a Cost-of-Living allowance ranging from £6B p.a. for unmarried minors to £136 for married persons; and they also receive a Territorial allowance ranging from £l5O p.a. for unmarried offi cers to £175 for married male officers. In other words, a sum of about £3OO per annum is added to all salaries fixed for the classified positions. Were it not for that, the salaries could be described as niggardly, With the two allowances added, they are regarded as generally atceptable.

On Australian mainland standards, the total incomes may seem high; but it has to be remembered that the cost of living in the Territories is very high, and is in creasing even more rapidly than on the mainland.

Working Hours May be Increased

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby Aug. 5.

THE working hours of Administration officers may be increased from the standard 34 a week to 369. It is understood that the Public Service Com missioner (Mr. E. A. Head) has recom mended this to the External Territories Department. . The increased hours may be embodied in the new Public Service regulations, now awaiting the Minister’s final approval.

The classification and accompanying regulations are aimed at bringing condi tions in the Territory Public Service into line with the Commonwealth Public Service. In many ways this policy will benefit local public servants but a longer working week is one of the disadvantages which may result from the policy.

Those who support the increase point put that Commonwealth Departments in the Territory already work 369 hours over a five-days week.

The Public Service Association, how ever, while in favour of a five-days week, strongly objects to longer hours. It says that Administration hours cannot be com pared with those of Commonwealth De partments in Australia. Commonwealth employees usually came to the Territory [or only two years, whereas Administra tion officers usually came for a lifetime pi service. Administration officers, there i°re had to endure the strain of tropical conditions much longer; and, for medical reasons, it would be unwise for them to Tru more hours than at present.

The Public Service Association says it

will take no action on the new classifica tion until it has been put into effect and the new regulations have been received.

A spokesman for the Association said yesterday that there appeared to be a number of anomalies in the classification but it was necessary to examine the regu lations before the position became clear.

A quarterly news bulletin is now being issued by the Public Service Association to keep members fully informed on Pub lic Service matters.