Parliament approves increased allowances for all MPs and Ministers

Parliament has approved the increased allowances for government ministers, the Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition and all MPs as recommended by the Parliamentary Emoluments Committee.

39 parliamentarians voted for the motion, 2 voted against it while 9 MPs did not vote.

The new allowances will be in place until December 2018.

The National Federation Party opposed the motion of increasing the allowances of ministers and parliamentarians by the Parliamentary Emoluments Committee.

Party Leader Biman Prasad also says that he and NFP MP Prem Singh will not accept any increase in allowances after they are approved by parliament.

In a report tabled by the committee Chairman Brij Lal after getting submissions from the FijiFirst, SODELPA and NFP, the committee recommended that the Prime Minister’s overseas travel allowance be set at UNDP subsistence allowance plus 250% plus $600 per day.

The Prime Minister’s current overseas travel allowance is set at UNDP subsistence allowance plus 50% plus $300 per day.

Parliament has also approved the recommendation that cabinet ministers overseas travel allowance be set at UNDP subsistence allowance plus 200% plus $500 per day.

Their allowances currently stand at UNDP subsistence allowance plus 50% plus $250 per day.

Overseas travel allowances for the Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition has also been set at UNDP subsistence allowance plus 100% plus $300 per day.

Their current allowance is set at UNDP subsistence allowance plus 50% plus $150 per day.

There are also increases for Assistant Ministers and MPs.

According to the committee’s report, the value of the Fiji dollar is minimal compared to the US dollar, Euro and British Pound.

The committee says the cost of hotels, meals and transport is very high in many countries when travelling abroad, particularly at the official venues that are chosen for international meetings.

It says the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers are expected to host networking meetings with their foreign counterparts.

The committee says these are added expenses currently footed out of the pocket.

It says the networking meetings provide significant added value to participation at these international fora.

Increases in allowances for accommodation and meals have also been approved from $150 per day to $350 per day for those living beyond 30 kilometres from the meeting venue and $30 per meal.

Business class trips for MPs going on official trips have also been approved for trips exceeding 6 hours from the first flight time.

Committee sitting allowances for MPs including Assistant Ministers have also increased from $80 per day to $200 per day.

Mileage allowance increases have also been approved.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Emoluments Committee Brij Lal said that the committee is not recommending any salary increases for parliamentarians as the nation is still recovering after Tropical Cyclone Winston.

The committee is made up of Brij Lal, Jone Usamate, Alvick Maharaj and Mikaele Leawere.

MPs Proposed Allowances

MPs Justifications for Allowances