Fiji's interim finance minister says the government will not borrow money to restore the salaries of striking nurses.
Mahendra Chaudhry made the comment in response to a proposal by the Fiji Nurses Association general secretary, Kuini Lutua, that the government borrow from the Fiji National provident Fund as previous governments had done.
Mr Chaudhry says there's no chance of the government borrowing to meet the pay claims of unions.
He says the government just does not have the money to restore the 5% salary cut imposed in March this year.
The Fiji interim administration has offered the creation of 60 new positions for sisters which will enable nurses to move up and 80 new positions for nurses who are coming out of nursing school.
Mr Chaudhry has urged the Fiji Nurses Association to accept these and wait for the restoration of their pay when government finances have stabilized.
