An Opposition lawmaker in the Northern Marianas has called on the Government to make bigger budget cuts rather than reduce the hours of workers.
Diego Benavente says the Government should cut the budget by 12 point five percent instead of the planned 7.25 percent.
The administration of Benigno Fitial is pushing to have government employees work a nine day fortnight and this could be enacted this week.
Mr Benavente says cutting the hours will not only affect wages it will reduce government collections from taxes and fees.
He says, instead, if the budget allocation to each sector was cut those agencies could then decide how to work with a reduced income.
