Dispute over safety gear, salaries at Buka council

By Aloysius Laukai

Buka Urban Council manager, Brenda Tohiana, says all new employees are supplied with hand gloves, masks, overalls and footwear when engaged to do their work.

She was responding to calls by Urban Council workers who told New Dawn FM they were not using protective gear when doing their duties.

John Thomas told the radio station that the Urban Council was not supplying safety gear to its employees, who were prone to contacting diseases due to the nature of their work.

He said their calls for improved working conditions, including salaries, have fallen on deaf ears.

Ms Tohiana told New Dawn FM that workers are paid good salaries, however they misused them by getting alcohol which result in them running out of food before the next pay day.