Papua
New Guinea

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2022 Score

42

2020 Score

N/A

Rating

Total Lack of
Decent Work

Fair
Wages

20

Decent
Working Hours

60

Employment
Security

40

Family
Responsibilities

25

Maternity
at Work

20

Safe
Work

25

Social
Security

60

Fair
Treatment

20

Child &
Forced Labour

50

Trade
Union

100

1. Fair Wages
2. Decent Working Hours
3. Employment Security
4. Family Responsibilities
5. Maternity at Work
6. Safe Work
7. Social Security
8. Fair Treatment
9. Child & Forced Labour
10. Trade Union

Fair Wages

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law prescribe minimum wage rates in the country?No0§76 of the Employment Act, 1978.; §10, 14 & 16 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1962
Does the law require regular payment of wages?No0§8, 78, 80-96 & 142 of the Employment Act, 1978; §22& 23 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1962
Does the law require overtime compensation be at least 125% of the regular hourly rate?Yes1§52 of the Employment Act, 1978 
Does the law require additional compensation for working on a weekly rest day?No0§48a & 52 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law require additional compensation for night work?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located

Decent Working Hours

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law stipulate general working hours as 48 hours or lower?Yes1§48-49 of the Employment Act, 1978 
Does the law restrict maximum working hours including overtime to 56 hours per week?No0§49 of the Employment Act, 1978 
Does the law require a weekly rest of at least 24 hours?Yes1§49 & 50 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law require paid public holidays?Yes1§1-5 of the Public Holidays Act, 1953; §86 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law require at least three working weeks of paid annual leave?No0§58-62 of the Employment Act,1978

Employment Security

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law require written employment contracts or at least written employment particulars?Yes1§14-15 & 18-23 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law restrict the hiring of fixed-term contract workers?Yes1§22 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law limit the length of probation period including renewals to a maximum of 3 months?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require a 30-day notice before contract termination?No0§33-36 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law require severance pay at the rate of at least 2 weeks of wages for every year of service?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located

Family Responsibilities

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law require parental leave for parents?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require at least one week of paid paternity leave for fathers?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require flexible work arrangements for workers with family responsibilities?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require paid nursing breaks?Yes1§101 of the Employment Act, 1978

Maternity at Work

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law prohibits inquiring about pregnancy during recruitment?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require paid maternity leave of at least 14 weeks?No0§100 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law require cash maternity benefit be at least 67% of a worker's former wage?No0§100 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law require maternity benefit be paid through contributory social insurance or universal benefits system?No0§100 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law protect workers from dismissals during or on account of pregnancy?Yes1§102, 97 & 100(2) of the Employment Act, 1978

Safe Work

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law require provision of free personal protective equipment to workers from employer?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require the employer to train workers on health and safety issues?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law restrict work that is prejudicial to the health of the mother or the child?No0§98 & 99 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law provide for employment injury benefit?Yes1§36, 41-48, 54, 62, 65, 90 & 93 of the Workers' Compensation Act, 1978

Social Security

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law provide for an old age pension?Yes1§2-4, 76-77 & 90-91 Superannuation Act, 2000; §5 & 6 of the Superannuation Regulations, 2002
Does the law provide for a dependants'/survivors' pension?Yes1§2-4, 76-77, 94-95 & 124 of the Superannuation Act, 2000; §5 & 6 of the Superannuation Regulations, 2002
Does the law provide for unemployment benefit?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require paid sick leave for the first 6 months of sickness?No0§65 & 66 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law provide for invalidity benefit?Yes1§2-4 & 90 of the Superannuation Act, 2000; §5 & 6 of the Superannuation Regulations, 2002

Fair Treatment

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law require equal remuneration for work of equal value?No0§2(1), (2), (5) & (9) of the Constitution, 1975; §97 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law prohibit sexual harassment in employment?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law prohibit discrimination in employment matters?No0§55 of the Constitution, 1975; §97 of the Employment Act, 1978; §1 & 3 of the Discriminatory Practices Act, 1963
Does the law allow women to do the same jobs as men?No0§48 of the Constitution, 1975; §98 & 99 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law guarantee basic labour protections for gig economy workers?Yes1§2A of the Superannuation Act, 2000; ISSA Country Profile for Papua New Guinea

Child & Forced Labour

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law prohibit employment of children?Yes1§38(1)(a)(F) of the Constitution, 1975; §103 & 141 of the Employment Act, 1978
Does the law set employment entry age equal to or higher than the compulsory schooling age?No0Education Act, 1983 (No reference to compulsory eduation found in the law)
Does the law prohibit the employment of children in hazardous work under the age of 18 years?No0§104 & 105 of the Employment Act, 1978; §96 of Child Labour Act, 2009
Does the law prohibit forced labour?Yes1§23 & 43 of the Constitution, 1975; §208 of the Criminal Code Act, 2013

Trade Union

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law allow workers to form and join unions of their own choice?Yes1§47, Constitution1975; §2 -7, 12-20 of the Industrial Organizations Act, 1962; §1, 27, 28 & 39, Industrial Relations Act, 1962
Does the law allow workers to bargain collectively with employers through their representative unions?Yes1§255, Constitution 1975; §4, Industrial Relations Act, 1962; USDOS CRHRP 2021
Does the law provide for the right to strike?Yes1§25 & 64 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1962; Industrial Organizations Act, 1962
Does the law prohibit employers from terminating employment contracts of striking workers?Yes1§63 of the Industrial Organizations Act, 1962