8 Jun 2011

Fiji's Higher Salaries Commission scrapped

10:12 am on 8 June 2011

Fiji's Cabinet has approved the revocation of the Higher Salaries Commission after a submission by the interim Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

The Commission was empowered to determine the pay of every senior office holder in any public office, including statutory entities, public corporations and Government commercial companies.

Mr Sayed Khaiyum says the Commission lacks commercial understanding and knowledge of market forces, and tends to apply a public service approach and comparison in determining the remuneration of these entities.

He adds the current establishment and processes of the Commission are cumbersome, bureaucratic and time insensitive.

The interim Attorney General adds the salaries of the chief executive for any board, corporation, authority or body will be decided by the board, after an assessment.

Radio Fiji reports the decisions of the board will then be subject to the approval of the Public Enterprise Minister.