FCOSS and FPSA launch online petition against MPs pay rise and plans to organise national rallies for workers and communities

The Fiji Council of Social Services and Fiji Public Service Association have today launched an online petition against the hike in salaries and benefits of the Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, Speaker of Parliament and President.

Fiji Council of Social Services Executive Director, Vani Catanasiga and Fiji Public Service Association General Secretary, Judith Kotobalavu say the launch of the online petition by FPSA and FCOSS also serves to begin a series of solidarity activities under the Give it a RAISE, Give it a REST campaign between members of the two organisations.

These will include the convening of National Rallies for Workers and Communities this month in Suva.

The online petition calls for the immediate reversal of the determination of Parliament Based on the Emoluments Committee’s recommendations, a comprehensive Review of the Parliamentary Remunerations Act, an Annual Performance Review Mechanism upon where the emoluments committee can deliberate any proposals for changes to salaries and conditions, a comprehensive summary of relevant agency and portfolio outcomes aligning with the National Development Plan and pertinent Sustainable Development Goals which is directly linked to the nation’s strategic development priorities, a Citizens’ Assessment Report summarizing submissions from citizens regarding their assessment of the conduct and performance of Members of Parliament and relevant members of the executive arm of government and representation from Private and Civil Society Sectors in the review process.

They believe the participation of the public, private and civil society sectors ensures a balanced and diverse perspective, contributing to a fair and transparent evaluation of parliamentary performance.

The online petition link is here: https://www.change.org/p/call-for-reversal-and-review-of-parliamentary-emoluments

The online petition announced by Catanasiga and Kotobalavu stress that repealing of Gazette 41/2024 on the determination to amend the salaries payable under Part A and Part B of the Schedule to the Parliamentary Remunerations Act 2014 based on the Emoluments Committee’s Recommendations.

Based on the gazette approved by parliament, the President’s salary should increase from $130,000 to $185,000, the Prime Minister’s salary is to be reduced from $328,750 to $320,000, and the Speaker’s salary be increased from $150,000 to $220,000.

As an interim measure, the government had proposed and approved through parliament within the current budget year to reduce the Prime Minister’s salary from $328,750 to $263,000, the Minister for Finance’s salary was reduced from $235,000 to $188,000, Ministers’ salaries were reduced from between $200,000 and $185,000 to $160,000 and $148,000, Assistant Ministers’ salaries from $90,000 to $72,000 and the Leader of Opposition’s salaries from $120,000 to $96,000.

Based on that, the Prime Minister’s reduced salary from COVID-19 will increase from the current $263,000 to $320,000.

All Ministers are to get a $200,000 salary which sees a decrease in salary for the Minister for Finance and increase for other Ministers who are on $160,000, an increase in Assistant Ministers’ pay from $90,000 to $120,000, an increase in the Leader of Opposition’s pay from $120,000 to $200,000, and an increase in the pay of Members of Parliament from $50,000 to $95,000. The Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition will also be entitled to free furnished official residences.

Based on the gazette, all Members of Parliament can buy a tax and duty free vehicle per term of parliament, $100,000 life insurance premiums which the MPs can continue at own cost after parliament dissolves and the MPs parliamentary duty allowances have been increased from $10,000 to $15,000 a year for each MP.

There are also changes to the travel allowances.

fijivillage News has sent questions to Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka on whether there are plans to move a motion to cancel the salary and benefit changes, and have an independent review and full public consultations on the same before it goes back to parliament.

He is yet to respond.

Rabuka had earlier said that he feels for the people’s hardships based on the concerns raised regarding the Members of Parliament voting for the change in salaries and benefits however he confirms he cannot encourage the coalition to change the decision.

When earlier questioned by fijivillage News on whether Rabuka will encourage an amendment that does not allow the increased salaries and benefits as he was earlier given wrong legal advice and the changes in salaries and benefits were gazetted by Parliament, Rabuka confirmed this will not be done.

Stay with us for developments.