Opposition Leader, Patrick Pruaitch (File Image)
By Jack Lapauve – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The Opposition has criticized the 2018 Mid-Year Economic and Financial Outlook report recently released by the government.
In a statement by Opposition Leader, Patrick Pruaitch, the Opposition claims the Government is not helping the economic situation with increases in wages and salaries for public servants.
Pruaitch says this massive blow-out is occurring after employees in the private sector lost their jobs as PNG’s per capita declined.
The Opposition says the 2018 MYEFO report is covering for the salary increments for 2017 and 2018 that were not accounted for in the Budget.
The Opposition Leader, says while the budget for public servants shows explosive growth, most other Papua New Guineans are struggling financially in the face of the rapid slowdown in the economy.