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News Release

Tonga Now
Government of Tonga
Nukualofa, Tonga
April 30
STUDY: PACIFIC ISLANDERS WAGES RISE IN NEW ZEALAND

Pacific Islanders in New Zealand are catching up with other groups in the country in terms of employment and wages, according to the latest statistics.

The latest report from New Zealand Department of Labour says employment growth for Pacific people rose by 3.8 per cent each year between 2001 and 2006, compared with a national average of 2.7 per cent and exceeds that for European (1.6 percent) and Maori (3.5 percent). Pacific unemployment fell from more than 12,000 in 1999 to fewer than three thousand in February this year.

"Robust economic growth in New Zealand has contributed to an improved position of Pacific peoples in the New Zealand labour market over the last five years. Pacific people’s employment and average wages have risen and unemployment has declined. While growth in wages and employment has been...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, May 1) – The Papua New Guinea Parliament yesterday approved hefty payments for former Prime Ministers, Speakers and Chief Justices on the second last day of the sitting for this Parliament’s term.

These payments include PGK75,000 [US$26,941] for the purposes of employing an executive assistant and personal security and for the former prime ministers, speakers and chief justices. They will be responsible personally for the appointments of who shall be employed on a negotiated contract, administered by Parliament for the former speakers and prime ministers and by judiciary services for the former chief justices.

Minister for Education Michael Laimo tabled the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) report.

The other benefits are:

These leaders are eligible for these benefits if they have served for a minimum of two years and are to continue during the lifetime of these persons unless they re-enter...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, May 1) - The announcement by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to give PGK50 million [US$17.9 million] to fix Lae City roads has been received with mixed reactions.

Morobe Governor Luther Wenge warmly welcomed the announcement and said it should stop the whining from politicians including Lae MP Bart Philemon and the Lae Chamber of Commerce.

Sir Michael surprised everyone at a gathering to launch the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) last Friday when he said the Government will give PGK50 million to fix the city’s deteriorating roads.

Political commentators say the move was calculated to "kill off Bart Philemon and Sir Bob Sinclair (New Generation’s candidate for the Morobe regional seat).

The Lae Chamber of Commerce welcomed the announcement, and called on Sir Michael and the Government to release the money "sooner than later" to fix the roads before the on-set of the rainy...

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, May 2) – The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Office of Personnel Management is now preparing a reduction in force plan for all civil service employees of the executive branch as Gov. Benigno R. Fitial himself informed the public during his State of the Commonwealth Address on Friday.

"As a last resort," he said, "I have asked the Office of Personnel Management to prepare an implementation plan for a reduction in force that would affect all civil service employees. This is a legal requirement that I must follow before I make any decision whether such a reduction in force is necessary. It is my hope that the Legislature and this administration will work together to achieve the necessary cost reductions before fiscal year 2008 so as to make any reduction in force unnecessary."

Fitial’s memo dated April 24 instructed OPM Director Mathilda Rosario to establish "retention standing and bumping rights for each employee, a timetable...