Papua New Guinea is a country that is known to have 852 languages and the estimated total population is around 8.1 million. The largest cities or town in the country are Port Moresby in National Capital District, Lae in Morobe, Arawa in Bougainville, Mount Hagen in Western Highlands, Popondetta in Northern Province, Madang, Kokopo in East New Britain, Mendi in Southern Highlands, Kimbe in West New Britain, and Goroka in Eastern Highlands.
If you’re planning to work in Papua New Guinea, there are 5 things you should know before accepting the job offer. Please see the list below
1.Language
It is very important to know the language of the country you’re going to, at least make a research online or ask someone you know that is working there already. In my own experience in Papua New Guinea, it is not really that hard to communicate with local people because most of them speak English, as long as you can speak English, communication to the local people is just a piece of cake (Easy). The official language for Papua New Guinea is called Tok Pisin, it is easy to learn as you stay in their country because the words that they use is mix with English, for example if I want to say “I saw you” in Tok Pisin “Mi Lukim Yu”, As you can see the word “I” they’ve used “Mi” and for the word “Lukim” they got it from the word Look, It is like Looking and for “You” is they have the same pronunciation but only different spelling. Still everything will depend on which part of the country you are going to work as mention in my introduction above, they have 852 languages, Tok Pisin is just their Main Language, If you will be working in a province they still have their own Native Language but overall as long as you speak English it will be easy for you to communicate with them and learn more.
2. Location
Did you accept the offer already, if you do so and don’t have any idea on what kind place you are heading to? It will be quite difficult for you when you arrive at your workplace. Research really takes part if you want to know more about something. My advice is to be very extra careful every time, in any part of the country you’re going to, It is a good place to work but there are still some bad people all over the country, City or Province it cannot be avoided. The thief or bad guys here are called Rascal. If you will work in the city there are a lot of place you can go, hang around with friends in Vision City shopping mall in Waigani Port Moresby, play pokies & pool have a little drink in Lamana Hotel located at 1 Famagusta Road, Waigani National Capital District. Just always be extra cautious when going out and as much as possible never go out alone. Most foreign worker in Papua New Guinea the employer provides them a vehicle, If you are Lucky enough to have one it is good for you, if you don’t know how to drive at least let someone drive for you, some company local drivers are really trustworthy just give them some food or coins they will drive for you. Try not to use a cab or bus as a foreign worker in their country, it is really not advisable because the security risk is really high, unless you’re with local citizen you really know it is a bit alright to try.
3.Food
4.Transportation
5.Salary
Before you accept the job offer make sure you know what are the good benefits for you as a foreign worker, Sometimes you will not know what are those until you see your contract, but most likely all the job offers posted in different place indicate what the job is all about, Some of them includes Free Accommodation, Food, Allowance and Transportation. If your food is free then good for you, there is a big chance of having a big savings but even if the food is free still you wouldn’t know what food they are going to serve for the foreign employees like you. In my own personal experience that I want to share with you, I’ve work in Chinese Company; everything is almost free, Accommodation, Transportation and Food except for personal hygiene that one is your own expense. Our Food in the company is free but the food that they serve us every morning is always porridge with egg, can you imagine everyday eating a porridge, the saddest thing is sometimes at night too and we don’t have the rights to cook in the kitchen only the chef are allowed. I can say that not all companies are like that, I have some good friends working in different company and they can cook in the kitchen or request something they want to it. In any case that you will end up with the same company that I had, my advice is just buy something in the supermarket that is easy to eat, like can goods and instant noodles. Somehow when you feel hungry anytime you can easily eat that, make sure you have a kettle, bowl and cutlery in your room. If you have day off or free time, you can try to go in some restaurants and eat delicious food, in Port Moresby City there a lot of place to dine in, If you will work in a province you can go to some hotels for sure they have restaurant there and offer good meals for either in-house or walk-in guest.
4.Transportation
As I’ve mentioned in the list Number 2 about Location, Most foreign employees are provided with a vehicle with or without driver, if it is included in your contract lucky for you but if not my best advice is to go out with a friend foreign or local, especially if you’re going to take a cab or bus, bring a local citizen with you. The bus fee is around 1 Kina depends on the place you will go, an average cab fee is around 15-20 Kina. People in Papua New Guinea are very friendly try to gain some friends as much as possible because the more friends you have the less trouble you will experience.
5.Salary
The salary of a foreign worker in Papua New Guinea depends on which country you belong to, what position and job offered to you. To the country that I came from which is the Philippines, the average starting pay of my countrymen is around 2,000 Kina if converted to Philippine money would be 31,060 pesos as the current exchange rate is 15.53 Pesos per 1 Kina. The exchange rate changes every day, so if you want to send money to your country, I suggest to wait until the exchange rate is higher than yesterday. If you have a free accommodation, food and transportation, make use of it to have more savings, try not to spend unnecessary things that is not really important. Open a Bank Account to Bank South Pacific(BSP) and save money, it is very easy to open an account to BSP, and you can try their Online Banking to all foreign worker in particular, It is easy and convenient, can use anywhere.
Many foreign people go to other country for work, seeking for a better opportunity to have a good life, always think carefully in what job you are going to take, country you’re going to, conduct research first before accepting the job offer or applying into job abroad. Make sure the employer will always follow the contract; it is your right as a foreign employer to demand whatever is in the contract agreement. I hope this will help people all over the world who will work in this country. In particular to the first time worker in Papua New Guinea
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