FTU says fuel crisis no excuse to deny civil servant pay rises

The Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) says the Coalition Government must demonstrate genuine leadership and political courage by delivering a meaningful salary increase for civil servants.

The call is part of the union's submission to the 2026-2027 National Budget, which will be delivered on Friday.

The FTU is seeking a salary adjustment package that includes:

• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA);
• Service Salary Progression Payment (SSPP);
• Merit-based increments; and
• Equity and retention pay

FTU general secretary Muniappa Goundar said these were not luxuries but necessities.

"Teachers, nurses, police officers and thousands of other public servants have carried the nation through difficult times," he said.

"They provide essential services despite rising living costs, increasing workloads and growing staff shortages."

Mr Goundar said the fuel crisis must not be used as an excuse to deny or reduce salary increases for civil servants.

"The global fuel crisis was not created by Fiji's public servants," he said.

"It is the result of international geopolitical tensions, supply disruptions and global market instability."

Mr Goundar said international agencies and the Government had acknowledged that recent fuel price increases were being driven by global events beyond Fiji's control.

"The fuel crisis strengthens rather than weakens the case for salary increases," he said.

"When fuel prices rise, transportation costs increase. When transportation costs increase, the prices of food, goods and services increase.

"That is why workers require higher incomes to maintain a reasonable standard of living.

"It is precisely why Government must provide meaningful salary increases."

Mr Goundar said the Government might argue that higher fuel prices were placing pressure on national finances.

However, he said freezing or suppressing the wages of public servants was not the solution.

"The Government has already demonstrated that it possesses the fiscal capacity to respond to the fuel crisis through targeted measures and budget reallocations," he said.

"The question therefore is not whether the Government can act, but whether it is willing to prioritise the people who deliver essential public services every day."

According to FTU statistics, Fiji is also facing an unprecedented shortage of teachers and other skilled professionals.