Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has announced a series of strict cost-cutting measures, including a proposed 20 percent pay reduction for Ministers, Assistant Ministers, and Members of Parliament, as Government moves to lead by example during a challenging period.
In his national address, Rabuka says the pay cut, subject to Parliamentary approval, was a necessary step to ensure leaders share the burden as the country adjusts to current economic pressures.
He also confirmed that all overseas travel for Ministers and Assistant Ministers has been halted with immediate effect, reinforcing Government’s commitment to reducing non-essential spending.
“This is about sharing the burden and setting the example as we ask the nation to adjust and respond responsibly,” Rabuka said.
The announcement comes as Government rolls out broader austerity measures across the civil service, aimed at tightening operations and redirecting resources toward priority areas.
Among the measures now in effect are a freeze on all new civil service positions and the suspension of job evaluations, alongside a complete stop on overseas travel for Permanent Secretaries and civil servants.
Government has also imposed strict controls on the use of official vehicles under a Finance Circular issued on the 2nd of April.
These include mandatory carpooling across ministries, encouraging officers to walk to nearby meetings, and requiring all official travel to be planned in advance.
Use of government vehicles after hours will now require approval from Permanent Secretaries or Heads of Department, with authorised vehicles mandated to carry official passes and subject to monitoring by Police and the Land Transport Authority.
Further restrictions prohibit idle parking, require engines to be switched off when not in use, and ban private use or deviations during official hours. Transporting civil servants to and from home during work hours is also prohibited unless overtime has been formally approved.
Additionally, the garaging of government vehicles at private residences has been banned unless authorised, while overtime payments have been suspended, with time-in-lieu to be applied instead.
Government has also placed a hold on new capital projects that do not yet have signed contracts, as part of efforts to control expenditure.
Rabuka stressed that the measures are necessary to instill discipline and ensure responsible governance during a critical time for the nation.
“This is about discipline, responsibility, and leadership at a time when our nation needs it most.”
The post Government imposes Cost-Cutting Measures as Leaders take 20% Pay Cut appeared first on Fiji One News.
