Sooner or later, NID’S will become mandatory for job seekers.
Minister for Internal Security, Peter Tsiamalili Jnr said this following queries about why Job seekers around the country have been ask to present a NIDs as a valid form of identification.
Member for Maprik, Gabriel Kapris raised this concern, referencing reports from the recent police recruitment drive of many youth being turned away due to having no form of NID Identification.
Kapris mentioned that the NID cards that the young people were asked to provide, especially in the rural areas are very hard to come by given the lengthy processing time once applications are put through.
“Is it a law, passed by Parliament to allow every citizen to provide ID cards [NID] in order to have employment? I’d like the minister to explain to the people of PNG through the Floor, what criteria will the youth follow, should they not be able to provide NID?” Kapris said.
In his response, Minister Tsiamalili Jnr stated that for the Police recruitment exclusively, the standard in which the police force is going through is to ensure that the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary sets a benchmark for those that they look to recruit.
“Everyone has been given ample time to be able to ensure that they’ve got those requirements in place.”
“It is not by Law, some of these requirements, but it is a standard the police are applying.”
The Minister further advised Parliament that very soon, all government institutions and the private sector will be conforming to using NID as a prerequisite for recruitment of staff.
This will be in line with the Internal Security White Paper that will soon be presented to the floor.
“NID is the basis for what we would deem to be the genesis for development but is also a part of our country a greater part of our intelligence.”
The Minister stated that although it is not legislation, this is to set a standard for future reference.