Salary Increment for Public Servants or Increasing Minimum Wage for PNG?

A thought came to my mind late last year (2022) when I read on the paper that public servants are getting salary rise by 3% for a period of three years. This came about as there was so much talk about giving back to the hardworking civil servants who have devoted their lives to serve the people of PNG in various fields in the government agencies. Therefore, the 3% increase in their salary is an approach taken to compensate their efforts as well as to boost their performance. 

This was timely, as countries around the world are experiencing inflation, which PNG is no exception. Civil servants in PNG can now enjoy the benefits of the policy, however, not everyone in the society is benefiting. Private and the informal sectors are facing the heat of inflation. Prices of goods and services are skyrocketing, and unemployment is high. People struggle to live in the urban centers, given that the country's minimum wage is one of the lowest in the world. With the little they have from the paycheck is not enough to keep them for two weeks before another pay day. This is an ongoing problem which needs to be addressed. 

Does salary increment for public servants a good approach taken by the PNG government? Instead of increasing the pay of civil servants, the government should increase the minimum wage to K7 per hour right across the board and we will see whether everyone will be better off, and no one will be worse off or vice versa. 

What are your thoughts on this? 

Let us know in the comment section below!......