Invest in Women to Progress in the Public Service

Deputy Secretary Human Resource & Advisory Services, Ms. Constance Baisi said the International Women’s Day theme for this year, ‘Invest in Women to Accelerate Progress in the Public Service’ is precise and clear .

She delivered her speech on behalf of the Secretary Ms. Taies Sansan during the celebration of IWD on the 8th of March, 2024.

Australian Awards PNG organized the event to highlight PNG Women who are breaking barriers particularly those who have excelled in their entrepreneurial endeavors through Australian Awards PNG Scholarships

Deputy Baisi highlighted some of the challenges women at different government levels face everyday.

She said about 22 per cent of women are employed in the Public Service.

Of that, only 5 per cent serve in the leadership and decision making roles.

At the senior management level women make up 15 per cent while 17 per cent of women hold positions at the middle management level and the remaining 25 per cent of female officers which is about 38,714 are on line positions below.

“With the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, we must invest inclusively on women and girls to help create a just and equitable society for all,” she said.

“Achieving gender equity is our government’s priority and investing in the empowerment of women in all sectors within the Public Service is an essential human rights and cornerstone for building equitable and inclusive societies,” said Ms. Baisi.

Deputy Baisi said under the National Public Service Gender Equity & Social Inclusion Policy’s 2nd and 4th priority action areas focuses on Women in Leadership, Education and training.

Since the launching of the National Public Service GESI policy in 2013, the Women in Leadership training program has set the bench mark targeting to increase the number of women in decision making roles by 30 per cent, based on merit and performance whilst 15 per cent of women must be employed in respective agencies across the public service.

Deputy Baisi said since 2017, a total of 765 women from the public service have undertaken studies through the prestigious Australian Awards program and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Fifty four per cent of women undertook the Australia Awards Long Term Scholarships while 29 per cent were recipients of the Australian Awards Short Term Scholarships.