The Northern Marianas government has decided to dump its plan to reduce the work-week by eight hours and will instead push for a salary cut.
The government's press secretary, Charles Reyes, says the governor's legal counsel is now working with the legislature to draft a bill that would implement a 10-percent salary cut across the board.
The eight-hour reduction would have meant smaller paychecks for government workers, but more time off.
The Saipan Tribune reports a salary reduction would simply mean smaller paychecks for the same amount of time at work.
Mr Reyes says a pay cut is a simpler approach to cut personnel costs because it does not entail scheduling and leave issues, among other things.
He added that the new proposal would address some employees' concern about fairness.
The salary cut would cover all employees, regardless of compensation rate or the government agency they work for.
