Staff at the Telikom PNG head office staged a stop work protest yesterday over the recent National Executive Council decision to restructure State Owned Enterprises in the Telecommunication Sector.
A nine-page petition was presented to Government officials calling for NEC to revoke its decisions, including the merging of Telikom PNG, Bmobile, and Data Co Limited.
Nearly all the Staff of Telikom PNG and other union members were out in numbers yesterday to witness the presentation of the petition to the Government. Their action follows National Executive Decision 360 of 2016.
National President of PNG Communication Workers Union, Nug Mamtirin, says the Union believes there are flaws in the NEC decision.
The petition includes a 9 points for the Prime Minister to reconsider.
Included in the petition is the question over the appointment of Mahesh Patel as Chairman of Kumul Telikom, and John Mangos as CEO.
Other key points highlighted are for government not to allow the merging of Telikom with Bmobile and Data CO, since Telikom was established by an Act of Parliament in 1996.
Chief Secretary to Government, Isaac Lupari, received the petition on behalf of the Government.
Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari says Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, will respond to the concerns raised.
Meanwhile, Union spokespersons maintained that the standoff is not a strike but a Stop Work Protest.
