Month: <span>July 2021</span>

The Law and Justice (LJ) Gender Equity, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Community of Practice have launched its Workplace Sexual Harassment Brochure and Poster to build awareness and bring more attention to the issue of workplace sexual harassment (WSH) and the impacts it has on staff and respective agencies as a whole.

Before launching the brochure and poster Attorney General and Secretary for Department of Justice and Attorney General Dr Eric Kwa challenged the audience about how they can deal with workplace sexual harassment perpetrators in their respective homes where it matters the most.

Dr Kwa added that according to Papua New Guinean Law, Sexual Harassment is an offence & a criminal behavior.

“Sexual Harassment in the workplace is a serious issue in PNG, my country Australia and across the world,” said Counsel Michael McKenzie of the Australian High Commission

Sexual harassment can have very serious consequences on the victim and the broader workplace because it impacts the victims’ mental health which can create a hostile and unpleasant workplace and it can eventually impact on the productivity of an organization.

Sexual harassment is not only rape or sexual assault, it includes indecent exposure, wolf whistling and any other unwanted behavior that makes someone feel uncomfortable, intimidated or humiliated.

Mr. McKenzie added that the WSH Brochure and posters had been developed by the LJS GEDSI COP following the workplace sexual harassment training delivered to the COP in 2018. Since this training, a number of COP members have been working on developing WSH policies within their organization.

The LJS has recognized the support of the Department of Personnel Management who is also the custodian of the National GESI Policy and the Australian Government for their support as well.

“Generations of underprivileged Papua New Guineans who look to public servants and politicians for positive influence in the country leave without fulfilling dreams, hopes and aspirations because you and me are underperforming in the designations we occupy from the chair of the Prime Minister down to all designations in our public service structure,” said Prime Minister James Marape when he officially launched the Human Resource Development Strategic Plan 2020-2050.

This 30-year policy framework will involve building a new cadre of public servants. Entry into the public service will require graduates to undergo compulsory training which will be conducted at the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance before being inducted into the public service.

In her welcome remarks, Secretary for Department of Personnel Management Taies Sansan, said that this policy framework will go down in history as the first ever long term roadmap for the public service in the country since the launch of the PNG Vision 2050 in 2009.

“Public Service was the missing link (in PNG Vision 2050) and we have realized that public service was mainly operating on adhoc plans and policies based on the government of the day’s directions through accords and communiqués.

This has made it difficult to really implement the restructuring of the public service to meet government’s expectations and our people’s expectations,” said Secretary Sansan.

Minister for Public Service Hon. Joe Sungi said that most politicians and senior public servants are more focused on Finance Managers in their respective organizations and most times they forget the Human Resource Managers.

Minister Sungi emphasized that those graduates who decide to join the public service must do so as a career of choice and not as second option employment.

Prime Minister Marape added that public service is a place to deliver to our country, however, the present systems, procedures and processes are obsolete after 46 years on. They require reformation and innovation.

“This plan is now focused on how we can ensure we empower our human resources so that they become agents of change in our society,” said PM Marape.

Chair of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Reforms and Governor for Oro Hon. Gary Juffa challenged the government to be a competitive employer so that public servants can, not only be employed in the private sector, but abroad as well because we are global citizen.

This long term plan will demand for a well-trained, responsive workforce capable of meeting tomorrow’s challenges; improving the quality of work for delivery of effective and efficient services. It is for this reason that the need to build capacity is paramount as it sets the parameters within which the new intake of public servants will be guided towards being inducted into the public service.

Public Service Minister Hon. Joe Sungi said, it will now become mandatory for graduates to have a certificate of public service management from the Pacific Institute of Leadership & Governance as an entry requirement into the public service.

Speaking during PILAG’s 3^rd graduation on the 2^nd of July Minister Sungi told the graduates that under the newly launched long term plan – the Human Resource Development Plan 2020-2050 will now guide the entry into and exit from the public service.

The Public Service Minister announced that it will now become mandatory that public servants must undergo a certificate course at PILAG to gain employment in the public service. He further stated that executive appointments of Departmental heads, CEO’s, MD’s of line government agencies must now attain a Diploma in Management from PILAG to be eligible for appointment to an executive position. “We will modernise the public service so graduates must put the public service as their employer of choice.

Others will be convinced by seeing you. If you can shine out when you return to your respective organisations, others will be attracted to take up a career in the public service”. 

Minister Sungi encouraged the graduates to be the agents of change when they return to their respective organisations. Addressing the graduation Minister Sungi said, the public Service desperately needs public servants who are competent and committed.

The Public Service Minister told the graduate that he was adopting the two C’s from Prime Minister Hon. James Marape when he delivered the keynote address at the launch of the long term plan for the public service – the HRDSP 2020-2050. The Minister said, the two C’s that he wanted to share with the graduates is to be competent and committed.

“You are now going to be graduating from these courses and building your competency level which is skill enhancement. So when you go out you have all the credentials, knowledge and skills to be able to rise up and perform better. You are now competent. Competency is everything – punctuality, responsibility and being proactive. You should not wait for your boss to tell you what to do. You do it yourself by taking responsibility”.

The Public Service Minister also reiterated that commitment is one of the biggest issues in the public service. “We have a real big problem in this country and that is we are not committed. You have to be committed to the call to become a public servant”.

Minister Sungi in his encouragement message to the graduates told them that they need to show that commitment to others. Minister Sungi also took time to thank donors and SP Brewery Foundation for the support they have accorded to the institution over the years.

Secretary Ms Taies Sansan who addressed the graduation in her capacity as the interim chair of the PILAG board also congratulated the graduates and acknowledged the contributions of donors such as the Australian government. Ms Sansan also acknowledged former DPM Secretary’s and Ministers who had a hand in contributing towards PILAG’s achievements.

PILAG CEO Michael Barobe in addressing the graduation also acknowledged the contributions of the Australian government towards infrastructure support for the institution. Mr Barobe thanked the graduates for being role models and abiding by the institutions rules and principles.

Mr Barobe said, future students to the institute will abide by the institutions rules as the example has been set by the current graduates. The 3^rd PILAG graduation after its change of name saw 247 students graduating from 10 different courses ranging from certificate and diploma courses. 90 percent of the graduates are public servants while the rest were from the private sector.