4 Apr 2024

Vanuatu MPs to get big pay rise

10:43 am on 4 April 2024
Vanuatu vatu

Vanuatu vatu Photo: ppart/123RF

Vanuatu's deputy leader of the opposition and other office holders in the opposition are getting huge pay rises.

The government raised the wages last week to bring them in line with MPs holding similar roles in the government.

The Daily Post reports the wages are all being brought to the same level at just over five million vatu (about US$43,800).

The chairpersons and vice-chairpeople of parliamentary standing committees will get an eye-opening 127 percent increase on their previous salaries.

But the opposition leader Ishmael Kalsakau is not happy with the change.

He told the newspaper it does not equate with the responsibility the opposition members have.

Kalsakau is pushing for a delay of the upcoming referendum aimed at strengthening political parties, to allow the public to also have their say on the salary increase matter.