The Fiji Public Service Association (FPSA) has taken a swipe at Government, especially the Ministry of Civil Service, for the delay in the association’s pay claims.

Association general secretary Judith Kotobalavu, during Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s tour of the Western Division, said the grievances of their members have not been heard by authorities.

Ms Kotobalavu claimed the efforts by public sector unions, in particular FPSA, to seek salary increases for their members had been constantly sidelined by both past and current governments.

“We call on the Ministry of Civil Service to respond to the association’s pay claims so that a thorough examination can be made about remuneration packages,” she said.

She said urgency was needed to address the brain and skills drain to overseas employment by members of the civil service.

“The nurses are a good example of leaving the country in droves,” she said.

“In the past six years, the association has made several attempts to address the issue of pay increases, including its request to discuss the job evaluation exercise service-wide.

“The tragic reality is that the issue has been dragging on since early 2022. The association served a Log of Claims for a pay increase for its members from 10 per cent to 5 per cent on a graduated scale to be effective from April 1, 2022.”

Since no favourable response was received from the Ministry of Civil Service, FPSA filed a dispute with the Arbitration Court on its pay claim on May 24, 2022.

Last August, the Arbitration Court referred the matter to the Mediation Centre, where it appeared to have been abandoned, she said.

“The justification for a pay increase by our members is based on skyrocketing price increases in consumer goods as well as for services. The cost of basic, essential food items has gone through the roof. Inflation has been on an upward trajectory, which has been putting pressure on the buying power of our members. The daily basic living expense is a struggle as income has remained stagnant for the past six years since 2017.

“Government is now accountable for promises made for the salary review and undertakings given during their campaign speeches to increase civil service pay. Unfortunately, since taking office, they are talking of constraints in meeting their promises, which have not gone down well with the civil servants.”

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