Dear Team,

We, the Radiation Therapists of Papua New Guinea, respectfully submit this formal complaint regarding our prolonged employment under Short-Term Contracts (STCs) and casual arrangements at the National Cancer Treatment Centre, Angau Memorial Provincial Hospital.

For more than ten (10) years, we have continuously served in this highly specialized and critical area of healthcare, delivering life-saving radiation therapy services to cancer patients across the country. Despite the essential and permanent nature of our roles, we remain engaged under insecure employment arrangements. Currently, there are only thirteen (13) Radiation Therapists serving the entire nation.

This situation has resulted in significant disadvantages and injustices, including but not limited to:

No contributions to Nambawan Super Limited, thereby depriving us of retirement savings and financial security;
Lack of access to standard public service entitlements such as paid leave, housing benefits, and medical coverage;
Job insecurity despite performing continuous, full-time duties in a high-risk radiation environment;
Negative impacts on staff morale, wellbeing, and retention within a critically understaffed national service.

Our roles are not temporary in nature. Radiation therapy is a permanent and essential component of cancer treatment services, and our continued engagement over a decade clearly demonstrates the ongoing need for our positions within the public health system.

We respectfully bring to your attention that this situation appears inconsistent with established public service employment principles and workforce policies, which promote fair, secure, and equitable employment conditions for essential health workers.

Therefore, we humbly request the Public Service Commission to:

Investigate the prolonged use of STCs and casual employment arrangements for Radiation Therapists;
Facilitate the immediate establishment of permanent positions for all Radiation Therapists currently serving;
Ensure inclusion in superannuation schemes, including contributions to Nambawan Super Limited;
Grant access to full public service entitlements and benefits in line with other permanent health workers;
Provide policy guidance to prevent recurrence of such employment practices in critical healthcare services.

We remain fully committed to serving the people of Papua New Guinea and supporting the national fight against cancer. However, we believe it is both fair and necessary that our employment conditions reflect the value, risks, and permanence of the work we perform.

We trust that the Public Service Commission will give this matter urgent consideration and take appropriate action to address this long-standing issue.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Yours faithfully,

(On behalf of the Radiation Therapists of Papua New Guinea)

Public Services Commission WebSite
“From Independence to Integrity — Let’s Make the Next 50 Count!”

19
May, 2025
PSC ANTI-CORRUPTION & COMPLAINTS DESK

One thought on “PSC ANTI-CORRUPTION & COMPLAINTS DESK”
Robert Theo Mai says:
May 2, 2026 at 10:02 am
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A road project funded by Department of works to
Contractor: Harney Rock and Paving PNG Limited.
//upgrading and sealing (including associated drainage work) on a 4.3km section of road from Kilipau Junction to Ilup Logging Base Camp along vanimo to Bewani road in West Sepik Province.

: The money payment was huge and the work on that work was not probably built. Can you make investigation to this please.