7 Feb 2007

MPs in Niue likely to face salary cuts as the island battles its deficit

3:09 pm on 7 February 2007

The Niue premier, Young Vivian, says the salaries of parliamentarians are likely to be cut to match planned reductions in the income of public servants, as the country faces a budgetting crisis.

With nearly half the financial year to run Niue is already facing a shortfall of around a million US dollars.

The government has proposed that public servants work a four day week and Mr Vivian says he has been meeting with departmental heads to develop a policy for this.

He says the final decision on the cuts will rest with parliament..

Mr Vivian says workers in key services will not be affected.

"Like the health department, the police, the education department - those people will carry on because they are classed as essential services."