Hefty increase for MPs to spend on constituency offices

Members of parliament have received a 112.5 per cent increase in sums paid to them to meet constituency office expenses.

The amount allocated in the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure to defray constituency office expenses is $128.5 million for the 63 members of parliament.

This means that each member of parliament would now get $170,000 per month to meet their offices expenses, up from $80,000.

This was set out in the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure, which was tabled in the House of Representatives on December 5.

PUBLIC-SECTOR NEGOTIATIONS

The increase comes at a time when various public-sector groups are locked in intense negotiations with the Government.

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service first offered the police and nurses a salary increase of three per cent in the first year and three per cent in the second year. This was rejected by both groups.

In another attempt at breaking the deadlock, the finance ministry offered the same groups a four per cent increase in the first year and a two per cent increase in the second year. This offer was also rejected by the police and nurses.