Three expatriate Ela Motors managers in Port Moresby are facing deportation from the country.
They are Ela Motors General Manager, Adrian Collins, his Port Moresby branch manager, Peter Logan, and Automotive Marketing Manager, Brian Welch.
This follows the revocation of their current work permits by Labour Secretary Rose Kekedo last week.
They have been given 14 days, as of Tuesday this week, to leave. However, Burns Philp (PNG) Ltd, which owns Ela Motors, is seeking legal advice to appeal against the decision.
Burns Philp management expects to appeal to the Labour Minister, Peter Garong, within 14 days. Mr Collins, when contacted yesterday, refused to comment on the matter.
Mr Garong and Miss Kekedo are in Rabaul for the Cabinet meeting, and Labour officials in Port Moresby remained tight-lipped on the issue, saying they have been told not to comment.
But according to the Burns Philp Staff Association, the work permits of the three men were revoked following an investigation by Labour Department officials into allegations of malpractices and intimidation against the men.
The association raised the malpractice concerns following the sacking of two of its members from the automotive division in May.
Union president Phillip Aki called a general meeting at lunch yesterday to inform members of the Labour decision.
During the meeting, the more than 100 members who turned up agreed with their president to seek Labour, Foreign Affairs and Works department directives for the immediate deportation of the three.
Mr Aki later said: This is to avoid our elected leaders from being manipulated in their decisions by foreigners.”
“We want them out of the country immediately, and while they are away, the Labour Minister can consider their appeal.”
Mr Aki said one of the managers has very strong connections with senior politicians and very influential people.
The association went on strike in May after two of its members were terminated.
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