Fiji postpones national wage rise
![Fijian military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama says the recent floods and the global economic downturn have forced a delay on the introduction of a wage rise. [AFP]](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200810/r305416_1333167.jpg "Fijian military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama says the recent floods and the global economic downturn have forced a delay on the introduction of a wage rise. [AFP]")
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Fijian military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama says the recent floods and the global economic downturn have forced a delay on the introduction of a wage rise. [AFP]
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Fijian interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has postponed a national pay rise until July 1.
Radio Australia's Jemima Garrett says the wage rise of up to 20 percent had been agreed upon by the Fiji Wages Council and was supposed to come into effect at the beginning of this month.
However in a statement Commodore Bainimarama said Fiji had to do everything possible to secure existing jobs and income.
He said Fiji had suffered a dual economic setback due to the recent record floods and the ongoing economic crisis, and that sacrifices had to be made.
His decision to delay the promised wage rise has been criticised by former finance minister and Labour Party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry.
However Kalpesh Solanki, head of Fiji's Textile, Clothing and Footwear Council, has defended the delay, saying deferring the wage rise could help stave off further job losses in Fiji.
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