Bulolo MP Sam Basil Jnr, in his capacity as Parliamentary Leader of the United Labour Party (ULP) and Shadow Minister for Transport, Civil Aviation, and Correctional Service, has raised concerns over a new Bill aimed at amending the Essential Services Act. The Bill, introduced by the Minister for State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), seeks to prevent disruptions to essential services such as water, electricity, and transportation. However, Basil argues that the Bill undermines the Ministry and Department of Labour and Employment, which are responsible for managing industrial relations in the public sector. Basil acknowledges the importance of improving service delivery but believes the Bill misplaces the blame on workers. "Whilst the Bill is looking at improving services and continuity, it may be seen as a blame for our own inefficiencies," he stated. He pointed to poor leadership and management within SOEs as the root cause of disruptions. “No one is stopping the water, electricity, and airlines or ports, but it is the poor leadership from the organisation and the Boards.” Basil emphasised that even in the absence of strikes or employee confrontations, service disruptions persist. "That should be the crux of the matter—management, direction, and implementation," he said. He warned that the Bill interferes with existing labour laws, including the Public Service Management Act and Industrial Relations Act, which govern how the government interacts with public sector unions. The MP stressed the importance of dialogue between the government and unions in maintaining industrial harmony. “For public servants or public sector organisations, the Government policy on industrial relations requires that regular dialogue is to be maintained with the major unions in the public sector," Basil said. He further explained that both the Ministry and Department of Labour and Employment play crucial roles in overseeing negotiations between public and private sector unions and their employers. According to Basil, the new Bill jeopardises this process and could strain relationships between the government and unions. “Cordial relations or negotiations with public sector unions are to be conducted in the public interest and within public policy,” he said. He also highlighted that industrial actions, such as strikes, follow a strict legal process under the Industrial Registrar, ensuring they are justified and not taken lightly. Basil, as leader of the ULP, reiterated the party’s mission to protect workers' rights. He expressed concern that the Bill, while intended to address service interruptions, could undermine the work of the Industrial Registrar, the Ministry of Labour, and the Department of Public Service. “The United Labour Party was established with the core objective of protecting the voice of the workers at the political level,” he stated. He called on the Minister for State Owned Enterprises to reconsider the Bill and focus on addressing leadership and management issues within SOEs rather than bypassing the established industrial relations framework. Basil concluded by reminding the government that industrial relations are constitutionally protected and should not be undermined by legislation that could infringe on workers' rights. “The National Constitution provides for industrial relations that prohibits discrimination in employment on the grounds of union membership, race, social origin, colour, gender, marital status, religion, or political opinion, and promotes employment on the basis of merit alone,” he said. He urged the Minister to revise the Bill and respect the role of the Ministry of Labour in maintaining fair industrial relations.