All Members of Parliament will get a 20 percent pay cut following the passing of a motion tabled by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka while Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu’s amendment motion for a 50 percent reduction has been defeated.
While tabling the motion, Rabuka said at a time when government is calling on the nation to exercise restraint, efficiency, and resilience, it is both appropriate and necessary that they, as leaders demonstrate shared sacrifice.
He says this temporary adjustment to remuneration is not only symbolic, it is a deliberate signal of solidarity, accountability, and responsible and responsive leadership.
Rabuka says this measure is fully aligned with government's broader commitment to fiscal discipline and prudent expenditure management, reprioritization of resources towards essential services, strengthening economic resilience in times of crisis, and restoring confidence in public financial management.
He has emphasized that this is a temporary measure linked specifically to the duration of the fuel crisis, targeted intervention affecting only base salaries, and responsible adjustment undertaken within the provisions of the law.
Rabuka says it does not compromise the functioning of government, but rather reinforces their commitment to serve with integrity and accountability.
While speaking in support of the motion, Opposition MP Premila Kumar says the initiative to reduce the remuneration for all MPs by 20 percent during this fuel crisis is necessary, but in her personal view, it is not enough.
Kumar says a pay cut alone does not address the extravagant government expenditure, which has resulted in high government debt, which will exceed $2.2 billion by July 2026.
While speaking about government borrowing to run the country after VAT was increased from 9 to 15 percent and later revised to 12.5 percent, where she claimed less than 20 percent went towards capital works, Minister for Lands Filimoni Vosarogo raised a point of order, stating that her comments were irrelevant as the debate was about pay cuts and not debt levels.
Vosarogo accused Kumar of cheap political point scoring.
He says that if the amount should be more than that then what amount she was proposing.
Kumar says that by cutting their pay by 20 percent, the government is only saving $1 million.
She asks what will $1 million do, who is playing politics and adds that if they want to genuinely reduce the cost, they should be looking at the size of the Cabinet; that is where the cost will come down.
Vosarogo raised another point of order regarding relevance and the Speaker decided to move on with the debate.
While speaking in support of the Prime Minister's motion, MP and National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says people of this country know that the salary of the Prime Minister had been reduced by $8,000 when the new salary structure was implemented for Members of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers, Assistant Ministers, while the Opposition Leader's salary increased by $80,000 to $200,000.
Opposition MP Jone Usamate also raised a point of order on relevance to which Professor Prasad responded that they cannot talk about the 20 percent decrease in a vacuum and they have to talk about the base salaries of the parliamentarians including the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament.
Professor Prasad says what he understands from the Members of the Opposition is that they do not want the reduction and they do not want the people to know how much the reduction means from the base salary.
Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj and Usamate again raised points of order to which Professor Prasad responded that the people listening will understand what the Opposition is always up to and the point of order that they raised is very good because the people out there will understand what the Opposition were trying to do.
Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu then moved an amendment motion to decrease the pay for all parliamentarians by 50 percent, stating that the reduction will bring the salary of the Opposition Leader from $200,000 to $100,000.
He says the previous base salary for the Opposition Leader was $120,000.
Seruiratu says it starts with sacrifice as they should lead by example.
While speaking in support of Seruiratu’s motion, Usamate says they came in good spirits to support the Prime Minister and the former Deputy Prime Minister tried to have a go at them even though Kumar said they support it.
He says in their attempt to try to articulate the depth of the issue, Kumar was cut short and they tried to belittle her.
INSERT: Usamate on 50% 30 apr
While speaking in support of Rabuka's motion, Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka said they have a crisis on hand and they have to deal with it in a serious, responsible manner, not the grand politicking that they are seeing from the Opposition.
Gavoka says the attitude the Opposition is displaying is pathetic.
INSERT: Gavoka on pathetic attitude 30 apr
While speaking against Seruiratu's amendment, Prime Minister Rabuka says he has worked for almost 60 years and can afford the 50 percent pay cut but he must consider all the other members and government workers who rely on them to legislate wisely on their well-being.
