A motion proposing a 20 percent reduction in the salaries of senior political office holders was tabled in Parliament today, citing the nation’s ongoing fuel crisis as the reason for the proposed cut. The item appears under Schedule 2 – Motions for Debate and seeks to suspend part of the remuneration packages of Cabinet Ministers, Assistant Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition and Members of Parliament.
The motion specifies that the reduction would apply to the base salaries as set out in Gazette Notice No. 516 of 2024 on the Determination of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji. Its text says, in effect, “That Parliament makes a determination to suspend the remuneration of the following positions by 20 percent of the base salaries… for the duration of the fuel crisis situation.” The proposal has been brought under the provisions of the Parliamentary Remunerations Act 2014, the statutory instrument governing how Parliament sets and adjusts its own pay.
If adopted, the measure would temporarily reduce the base pay component of MPs’ and senior office-holders’ remuneration for as long as the fuel crisis is designated to persist. The motion, as tabled, appears to limit the cut to the base salaries referenced in the 2024 Gazette notice; it does not explicitly address other payments such as allowances, entitlement adjustments or benefits, which are not named in the document.
Parliament will debate the motion as part of broader discussions on current economic pressures, including the rising cost of living tied to fuel shortages and price volatility. Those debates are expected to examine both the symbolic and practical impacts of a pay reduction by elected and appointed political leaders, and whether such a measure should be temporary, tapered, or accompanied by other cost-saving measures across government.
Under the Parliamentary Remunerations Act 2014, Parliament has the authority to make determinations on its remuneration, meaning the motion, if passed by a majority of members, would be legally binding without further executive action. The motion’s sponsors have framed the proposal as a signal of shared sacrifice while households and businesses face mounting fuel-related costs; the exact timetable for any implementation would depend on the Parliament’s vote and any qualifying language the house may add during debate.
Today’s tabling marks the latest development in a story that puts lawmakers’ pay under public and parliamentary scrutiny amid an acute economic pressure point. Members will now move to debate the motion in the sitting, with the outcome to determine whether senior office-holders will formally accept a temporary, legislated reduction in their remuneration during the period the fuel crisis endures.