Public service unions in Fiji have made a claim for a similar pay increase to that received by the country's top civil servants.
The Confederation of Public Sector Unions has lodged a claim with the Public Service Commission for a 110% pay rise for its 12,000 members following revelations that permanent secretaries' pay has been increased by up to 192%.
Their pay hike had been recommended by consultants PriceWaterHouse Coopers.
The General Secretary of the Public Service Association, Rajeshwar Singh, says as pay in the public service should be based on relativity, lower grades should also be entitled to similar increases.
"Without their contribution, no permanent secretary deserves that rise because these are the people doing the hard yards in the ministries and departments and how can they be left high and dry when the permanent secretaries have received a massive pay increase."
Rajeshwar Singh says the unions have given the Public Service Commission two weeks to respond to their claim.
