PM not ruling out paycuts

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Government has not ruled out further pay cuts for civil servants to mitigate global shock in fuel price affecting Fiji.

Mr Rabuka said despite social media noise regarding potential salary reductions, any future action would depend entirely on calculations provided by Minister for Finance, Esrom Immanuel.

“There can be (cuts), but I haven’t made the decision,” Mr Rabuka said while attending the Cakaudrove Provincial Council meeting yesterday.

“We have had pay cuts for parliamentarians, and we can keep going. We all have to make sacrifices at some time.”

When questioned on whether civil servants pay cut would negatively impact his support in the upcoming election, Mr Rabuka remained firm.

“It can, but Fiji has to survive,” he said.

Last month, Parliament unanimously agreed that all 55 Members of Parliament take a 20 per cent pay cut for the duration of the fuel crisis.

Meanwhile, because of the on-going crisis, civil servants in non-essential Government services can work from home, based on the approval of the Permanent Secretary.