Papua New Guinea: A Guideline to Payroll and Employer of Record

Run your business seamlessly with Neeyamo as we help you go beyond borders to manage your international payroll and hire new talent in Papua New Guinea.

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Overview

Papua New Guinea (PNG), is a group of islands and an independent state in Maritime Southeast Asia. Its mainland on the island of New Guinea is bordered by Indonesia.

The economy of Papua New Guinea is dominated by its large, labor-intensive agriculture sector and extractive industries, which are mainly focused on oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and various mining activities, including gold, copper, and silver.

Neeyamo assists with the onboarding and management of employees in Papua New Guinea, along with the processing of a firm's payroll, compliance, benefits, and more.

Tools And Instances

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Global Payroll

Neeyamo’s global payroll solution covering 180+ countries

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Global Work

A tech-based EOR solution to manage your extended workforce

Facts And Stats

Capital

Port Moresby

Currency

The Kina

Official Language

Tok Pisin

Fiscal Year

January 1 - December 31

Date Format

MM/DD/YYYY

Country Calling Code

+675

Time Zone

UTC +10:00

Global Payroll

Overview

Handling payroll for a widespread workforce can pose a major challenge for any firm. The added complication of compliance can make things worse and drastically affect the time and efforts that can be used in other equally important aspects of an organization's development.

Over the years, Neeyamo has observed these complexities and strived to provide a global payroll solution through a single technology platform, Neeyamo Payroll.

Payroll Taxes

Payroll tax is the percentage amount retained from an employee's salary and paid to the government to invest in the general population's welfare.

Employee Taxes

Employees must contribute 6% towards Social Security.

The income tax bracket for residents is as follows:

Up to PGK 20,000 0%
PGK 20,000 to 33,000 30%
PGK 33,000 to 70,000 35%
PGK 70,000 to 250,000 40%
Above PGK 250,000 42%

The income tax bracket for non-residents is as follows:

Up to PGK 20,000 22%
PGK 20,000 to 33,000 30%
PGK 33,000 to 70,000 35%
PGK 70,000 to 250,000 40%
Above PGK 250,000 42%

Employer Taxes

Effective January 1, 2023, employers must contribute 8.4% towards Social Security.

Payroll Cycle

Overview

Undoubtedly, payroll is a critical process for any organization. The pay cycle in Papua New Guinea refers to the period for which an organization pays its employees, and this can vary depending on the pay frequency that the organization chooses to adopt.

Frequency

Pay for full-time workers must be distributed no less frequently than every two weeks. A lengthier payment period, up to one month, may be allowed by agreement between an employee and employer.

13th Month Cycle

Papua New Guinea does not mandate employers to provide bonus payments to employees. It depends on the contract between the employer and the employee.

Global Work

Overview

An Employer of Record service provider helps you get rid of the hassle of handling the complexities that come with setting up a new employee in remote locations. They act as legal employers, facilitate salary payments, and handle everything from health insurance. payroll taxes, and employee benefits to comply with local tax laws and regulations.

This ensures that the client company can focus on the employee’s everyday tasks safely in the knowledge that they have a cost-effective solution as they continue their global expansion.

HR Mandates and Practices

Minimum Wage

The national minimum wage in Papua New Guinea is PGK 3.50 per hour.

Overtime

For an employee who is not employed on shift work, the following is considered overtime:

  • all time worked in excess of eight hours on any one day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday; and
  • all time worked on a Saturday after 12 noon; and
  • all time worked on a Sunday or public holiday.

For an employee who is employed on shift work, the following is considered overtime:

  • all time worked in excess of eight hours in any one day;
  • all time worked in excess of 44 hours in any period of seven days;

Overtime compensation

on a Sunday shall be paid at twice the hourly rate, and 

on a public holiday shall be paid at the hourly rate; and 

at any time other than a Sunday or a public holiday shall be paid at one and one-half times the hourly rate.

When an employee works on Good Friday or Christmas Day, they are also entitled to overtime pay for that labor as well as time off during regular business hours that is at least equal to the time spent on those holidays. 

Data Retention Policy

Papua New Guinea does not have a comprehensive data retention law.

Hiring and Onboarding Requirements

Hiring

The specific onboarding documents that need to be submitted to employers by employees on their first day of employment in Papua New Guinea may vary depending on the company and the role of the employee.

However, some of the most common documents include:

  • Personal Information(Name, surname, DOB)
  • Proof of identity/National Identity card
  • Educational certificates
  • Proof of residence
  • Work Permit

Onboarding

Papua New Guinea Onboarding Documents:

  • Personal Information(Name, surname, DOB)

  • Proof of identity/National Identity card

  • Educational certificates

  • Proof of residence

  • Work Permit

Probation

There are no statutory laws regarding probation periods in Papua New Guinea (PNG). However, most employers have a probationary period of three months for new employees.

Leave

Public Holiday

National Holidays

  • 1 January: New Year's Day
  • 24 February: 'National Remembrance Day In Memory of Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare' day off
  • 7 April: Good Friday
  • 8 April: Holy Saturday
  • 9 April: Easter Sunday
  • 10 April: Easter Monday
  • 18 April: Public Holiday
  • 12 June: Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday
  • 16 June : king's Birthday
  • 24 July : National Remembrance Day
  • 26 August: National Day of Repentance
  • 15 September : Independence Day off
  • 25 December : Christmas Day
  • 26 December : Boxing Day

Annual Leave

All employees are entitled to 14 consecutive days of paid annual leave for every year of service. This leave is known as recreational leave.

Sick Leave

Employees who meet the following criteria are entitled to paid sick leave at the rate of six days per year: (a) they have worked for the employer for at least six months; (b) they are absent from work due to an illness or injury other than one that occurred as a result of or in the course of employment also sick leave may be accrued up to a total of 18 days, excluding sick leave credits for the current year.

Maternity Leave

A female employee is entitled to unpaid maternity leave Employees are eligible for maternity leave if they have worked for the employer for at least one of the following periods of time: (i) at least 108 days during a 12-month period; or (ii) at least 90 days within a six-month period, immediately before the leave was grant.

The Maternity period includes: six weeks following confinement; and

an additional four weeks if, following confinement, the employee is sick and is unable to carry out her employment. 

Termination

Overview

The following are the grounds to terminate an employment contract:

  • wilful disobedience of a lawful and reasonable order
  • The employee is guilty of fraud or dishonesty;
  • The employee is habitually neglectful of his duties
  • The employee was imprisoned for over seven days
  • The employee is continually absent from his employment without leave or reasonable excuse
  • is convicted of an offense or contravention of this Act or any other law relating to employment

Notice Period

A party to a contract of service may, at any time, give notice to the other party of his intention to terminate the contract.

The length of notice of intention required to terminate a contract of service shall be the same for both parties and shall be as specified in the contract; or shall be not less than the periods specified in Subsection.

Where there is no provision in a contract of service for notice of intention to terminate, the length of the notice shall be not less than:

  • one day’s notice if the employee has been employed for less than four weeks; or 

  • one week’s notice if the employee has been employed for not less than four weeks and for less than one year; or 

  • two weeks’ notice if the employee has been employed for not less than one year and for less than five years; or 

  • four weeks’ notice if the employee has been employed for five years or more.

An employee may terminate a contract of service without notice if the employer or a person acting or claiming to act on his behalf or with his authority:

  • forced the employee to sign the contract; 

  • had been convicted of an offense against the employee or his dependents;  

  • had violated this Act or any other law related to the employee or his dependents,

  • had been negligent or careless in the performance of his duties towards the employee or his dependents

  • has failed to properly and faithfully fulfill his commitments to the employee or his dependents by engaging in an act of omission or commission.

  • has mistreated.

Severance Pay

Severance or retrenchment compensation equal to 15 days average pay for every completed year of continuous service or part thereof in excess of 6 months must be paid to a workman on termination of employment.

Visa

Overview

Your employment visa will be issued separately after your work permit application is approved and issued. You must have in your possession a valid work permit letter, Work Permit ID card and a valid Working Resident Visa before you travel to Papua New Guinea to commence work It is the responsibility of your sponsor or employer to apply for a work permit on your behalf.

Employee Background Checks

Legal and Background Checks

Background checks are not mandatory in Papua New Guinea, but if this is a requirement of employment, an employer may legally conduct one and/or ask for a police clearance from the PNG authorities.

  • Educational Background

  • Employment History

  • Employment Verification

  • Passport Validation

Last updated on September 06, 2023. 

If you have any queries or suggestions, reach out to us at irene.jones@neeyamo.com

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