Tozaka Did Answer Question In Parliament - Avui
The Minister of Public Service, Milner Tozaka has given the right answer in Parliament that there is no log of claims
submitted by the Solomon Islands Public Employees’ Union to the Government.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Ishmael Avui made the clarification today following a report in
Solomon Star which reportedly claimed Mr Tozaka declined to inform Parliament about the SIPEU’s demands.
But he says, while there is no log of claims from SIPEU to the Government, both parties do have a Memorandum of
Understanding, which stipulates they work together in a cordial manner on issues relating to public officers.
The issues could not be regarded as a log of claims as SIPEU members have not formally endorsed it in their annual
general meeting.
Mr Avui says the Minimum Legal Wage, Cost of Living Adjustment, Housing Rentals, Review of the General Orders,
Re-centralization of discipline and the Pension Scheme are already part of the Ministry’s Corporate Plan.
He adds the Government has already reviewed the General Orders and paid the Legal Minimum Wage while both parties
continue to work on the COLA.
The Government has supplemented a five-percent pay increase for public servants under COLA in the 2008 Supplementary
Appropriation Bill which has been passed in Parliament.
Mr Tozaka could have given forthright answers if the question was on the status of the MOU between the Government and
the SIPEU.
ENDS