Today No Roads sent the following letter to the Chairperson of the Kokoda Track Authority expressing our support for the Porters pay rise. The Kokoda Track Authority is the organisation that can mandate this change.

Subject: Urgent Support for the Immediate Implementation of the 100 Kina a Day Pay Claim for General Porters on the Kokoda Track

Dear Julius,

This letter is to formally express the strong support of No Roads Expeditions for the proposed increase in the daily rate of pay for general porters on the Kokoda Track from 50 kina to 100 kina.

We believe that this pay rise is long overdue. The cost of living in Papua New Guinea has significantly increased over the past 15 years, with the price of many essential goods tripling in some instances. The current rate of 50 kina per day no longer reflects the economic realities faced by porters and their families.

Furthermore, No Roads Expeditions strongly believes that this pay claim should be implemented immediately and not be contingent upon or delayed by any broader discussions regarding overall porter conditions. General porters are the lowest paid individuals on the Kokoda Track, and it is imperative that their financial well-being is addressed with urgency. They should not have to wait for potentially lengthy negotiations on other matters to receive a fair and living wage.

It is our firm conviction that the 100 kina daily rate should serve as the absolute minimum base rate of pay for all general porters working on the Kokoda Track. This increase should be considered entirely separate from, and in addition to, any other conditions or benefits that employers may currently offer their porters. We believe that discussions regarding additional conditions, such as accommodation, meals, or insurance, are matters to be agreed upon directly between the porters and their respective employers. Crucially, porters should have the autonomy to determine how they utilize their earnings, independent of any influence from other individuals or businesses. A fair day's work deserves a fair day's pay, and that baseline must be set at 100 kina, with the porters having full control over their remuneration.

No Roads Expeditions is committed to ethical and responsible tourism practices. We recognize the invaluable contribution that porters make to the success and safety of expeditions on the Kokoda Track. Their hard work, dedication, and local knowledge are essential to the experience of trekkers, and it is imperative that they are compensated fairly for their efforts.

We urge the Kokoda Track Authority to give this pay claim the serious and immediate consideration it deserves and to implement the 100 kina per day rate as soon as possible. This is a crucial and urgent step towards ensuring a sustainable and equitable future for the porters of the Kokoda Track and for the tourism industry that relies on their services.

Thank you for your time and attention to this important and pressing matter.

Sincerely,

Peter Miller
No Roads Expeditions