Minister for Finance has to find money on how increased salaries can be paid – PM

Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says 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 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 had to be gazetted last week, Rabuka confirms this will not be done.

Rabuka says now the Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad has to find the money, and people also need to understand that the MPs still have a 20 percent pay cut.

When asked on his stance as the Prime Minister and leader of the coalition knowing many people are calling for the increased salaries not to be implemented, he says he feels for the people, and those who get pay increases will have more demands as well.

Based on the gazette, 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 salary 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.

PARLIAMENTARY REMUNERATIONS ACT 2014