THE PNG Banks and Financial Institutions Workers Union (PNGB&FIWU) will make a formal objection to the National Development Bank (NDB) this week calling for the reinstatement of two of its members who were recently terminated.
PNGB&FIWU union executives and affiliates announced on Friday (May 21) at a press conference at the PNG Trade Union Congress headquarters, Korobosea.
The two concerned held senior positions at NDB – Daniel Wohweihembe, Manager of Credit Scheme and Robbie Keseng, Manager Micro Finance. They were terminated by NDB on Friday May 14, 2021.
The PNGB&FIWU General Secretary Vera Raga said their termination was due to ‘the NDB retrenchment programme’ according to the termination letters.
But he added: “The Union has strongly condemned the terminations as a direct infringement of workers Universal and Constitutional rights to form and join trade union organisations.”
The two were the first to join the union branch of PNGB&FIWU when it extended its membership of 100 members to NDB in February 24, 2021. Mr Woiwehembe was a key staff instrumental in the delivery of the K80 million government SME funding programme and his termination is a setback to the rollout of the funding that was given by the government in November 2020.
Furthermore, Mr Raga said Mr Woiweihembe was standing up for a female manager – a single mother who was constantly threatened and abused and assaulted by a separate male colleague since February 22, 2018 which is now a subject of criminal proceedings at the committal court in recent months.
Mr Raga said the Union PNGBFIWU lodged a log of claims in the form of an Industrial Agreement for employees of NDB with the NDB Management in May 17, 2021 at 3.48pm. This is a normal process under the Industrial Act.
Mr Raga and the PNGB&FIWU executives’ claim the timing of the termination by the two union members by the NDB Management was purportedly based on retrenchment however the union argues that; “the termination is rather a direct result of the Unions push to pursue improved terms and conditions of the workplace and address other governance issues at NDB.”
“Furthermore, their termination amounts to the premise that their membership of the union is the reason for their termination. This apparently indicates a breach of Section 64 of the Industrial Relations Act 1962 by the NDB management as an employer,” Mr Raga said.
The unions are strongly calling for the following;
- The Acting CEO NDB to be checked for propriety in terms of his employment status under the Non-Citizens Employment Act and his ability to effectively and efficiently roll out an important policy of the government – the K80 million SME funding program;
- The Union will definitely register the terminations of its two unions as disputes under Section 25 of the industrial Act;
- The Marape/Basil Government to fast track the review of relevant labour legislation to address common law rights for workers to hire and fire and;
- The reinstatement of the two members.
The PNG Banks and Financial Institutions Workers Union (PNGBFIWU) is a registered trade under the Industrial Organisations Act registered in May 1, 1998.
NDB employees started joining the PNG Banks and Financial Workers Union in February 24, 2021 because they were concerned that there was no review on the terms and conditions of employment to the last six to seven years.
On the Union’s membership register, there are 125 employees of NDB who are members of the PNGBFIWU.