By Australian Deputy Prime,postcourieronline
Copyright postcourier
As PNG steps into the first days of its next 50-year journey, the demand for real change echoes louder than at any other time since the country gained independence from Australia, says PNG Trade Union Congress general secretary Clemence Kanau.
Kanau was speaking following a brief visit by Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles to the PNG Trade Union Congress (PNGTUC) headquarters on 15 September, which symbolically flicked the switch for a much-needed hard reset, particularly at the institutional level.
Mr Marles’ visit, a day before Independence Day also served as an unspoken recognition that trade unionism in PNG predates the country itself.
The first recorded strike, led by Sumsuma in the Rabaul copra plantations, occurred in 1929. The PNGTUC was formally established as the Federation of Workers Associations in 1969, six years before Independence.
The official opening and naming of “Paska’s Solidarity Hub” at the PNGTUC building by Mr Marles reflects the new direction of engagement for the national workers’ center, said Mr Kanau.
“This direction signals less focus on internal trade union politics and greater emphasis on active participation in socio-economic policy, positioning the PNGTUC as a key stakeholder in national development,” he said.
“At the peak of it all, maintaining the Supremacy of the Constitution over Parliament and defending Democracy for justice, liberty, and dignity for all remains the epi-centre of our work.”
Under the stewardship of Mr Kanau, ably supported by assistant general secretary Anton Sekum, PNGTUC has already begun implementing this shift.
The unilateral appointment of Joe Mondo Kaspar, President of the National Airlines Employees Association (NAEA), as Acting President of PNGTUC marks the first step in reorganizing and strengthening trade union solidarity across affiliates.
“The experiences of the past 50 years doing the same things and expecting different outcomes end here,” Kanau said.
“Effective 18 September 2025, PNGTUC embarks on a new dawn to reshape working relationships between affiliates and other stakeholders. This renewed solidarity will guide the movement toward the next biennial delegate conference (date to be announced).”
For workers today and into the future, the reset has begun, he said.
