Narube Calls for Govt to Reconsider MPs' 50% Pay Hike

If the Government intends to grant teachers a modest seven percent salary increase instead of the 30 per cent they are requesting, they must also rescind the extravagant 50 per cent pay raise they approved for themselves.

This is the word from the former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji and Unity Fiji leader, Savenaca Narube.

Mr Narube emphasised the need for Government to be fair.

"The Government has created its own problem here," he said.

"People will question how they can give themselves a pay increase of over 50 per cent while offering teachers only seven per cent.

"Where is the fairness in that decision?"

"This decision will have a significant impact. They were only thinking of themselves. How will they address this now?

Mr Narube proposed a solution.

“I urge these parliamentarians to return to Parliament and reconsider whether their decision to increase their wages can be waived to reduce the increase to only seven per cent.”

He said it was important to ensure that Fijians are given what they deserve.

“The minimum wage should be increased to $5 per hour. We don’t need noise; we need action, which we hope to see next Friday.”

PRIME MINISTER RESPONDS

When questioned if he would move a motion to cancel the salary increase for Members of parliament, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said: “We will have to wait for the budget to see if there’s a need for that. At the moment I don’t see a need for it.”

Mr Rabuka said people would have to wait for the Budget announcement to know where they would source the $8.1million planned for the Members of Parliament’s pay increase from.

He said public consultations was still on the table for the MPs salary increase however they would have to wait for the Budget announcement first to find out what would happen with the MPs salary increase that has already been gazetted by parliament.

FTA

Fijian Teachers Association General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga said the Government has become ignorant in not considering such vital and long-due pay increase for teachers.

“We thought this current Coalition Government which we put into power would have some pity on us and increase our pay,” Mr Manumanunitoga said.

“How would a five or seven per cent increase affect a significant change in one’s pay pack?

“Take for instance if a teacher was on salary band D at $14,428.13 and got a pay increase of 5 per cent he would be getting an additional $26 added to his pay per fortnight.”

NARUBE ON BUDGET

Mr Narube has advised the Minister for Finance to allocate funds to the main priorities of Government.

“Health and education are obvious priorities. One issue that is increasingly discussed is drugs. I don’t see the government doing enough about it. It’s dangerous, and I hope they can allocate more resources to combating drug abuse,” Mr Narube said.

“The second priority is social welfare. More funding needs to be allocated there because the cost of living continues to rise, and support is needed for those in need.”

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