PM Announces Sweeping Cost-Cutting Measures

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has announced a series of cost-cutting measures across Government, aimed at reducing expenditure and improving efficiency in the civil service.

Under the new measures, all new civil service positions and job evaluations have been placed on hold, while overseas travel for permanent secretaries and civil servants has been stopped.

Strict controls have also been introduced on the use of government vehicles, including mandatory carpooling across ministries, encouragement of walking to nearby meetings, and a requirement that all travel be planned in advance.

Government meetings and trainings are to be conducted virtually where possible, while after-hours use of government vehicles will require approval from permanent secretaries. All authorised vehicles operating after hours must carry official passes and will be monitored.

The measures further prohibit private use of government vehicles, restrict transporting civil servants to and from home during official hours unless approved, and ban garaging of government vehicles at private homes without authorisation.

In addition, overtime payments have been suspended, with time-in-lieu to be applied instead, and new capital projects without signed contracts have been placed on hold.

As part of the broader cost-saving efforts, Prime Minister Rabuka also announced a proposed 20 per cent pay cut for Members of Parliament and Government Ministers. However, the Cabinet has yet to approve the proposal.

The Prime Minister said the measures are necessary as the Government responds to ongoing economic pressures and works to manage public spending responsibly.