University boss urges pay cut for Fiji staff
Updated
Academic staff of the University of the South Pacific have been urged to take a five per cent cut in pay.
The plea was made by the new vice chanceller of the university, Professor Rajesh Chandra when he met teaching staff at their main campus in Suva.
Our reporter in Suva, Samisoni Pareti, says Professor Chandra who took office a few weeks ago wants the salary reduction to take place from January 2009.
He told staff members that he and his senior executives have already taken a five per cent pay reduction.
He's promising to restore pay by 2011, and this will be backdated to 2010.
As an incentive, all staff will have an additional 5 working days added to their annual leave.
Professor Chandra of Fiji is blaming huge pay increases by his predecessor for the financial difficulty.
He says the university is experiencing cash flow problems and may have to borrow to cover some $US3 million of deficit projected for the current financial year.
