12 Feb 2007

Niue businesses to discuss government financial crisis

2:45 pm on 12 February 2007

Private business operators in Niue are to hold a forum tomorrow to discuss the country's financial crisis.

The government is planning to reduce workers hours by 20 percent in an effort to cut expenditure but many are opposed to it.

There have been suggestions the government reduce its spending in other areas rather than bring in a four day week because a majority of wage earners are public employees.

Mark Cross of the Chamber of Commerce says there appear to be two camps among business people over the government plans.

"The ones that are reliant on the public sector are quite against the four day week whereas the people that are more reliant on tourism, outside money, think it is a really good thing because basically we are top heavy. We are quite top heavy in terms of the public sector and things need to happen."