By Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga

Public servants will receive a 3% general wage salary increase effective January 1st, 2014.

Teachers can also look forward to a salary readjustment.

While pensioners can look forward to an increase in their monthly pensions once parliament gives the nod to the $14.4 million tala supplementary budget.

GENERAL SALARY INCREASE

In tabling the 2013-2014 Supplementary Budgets in parliament this week, Finance Minister Faumuina Tiatia Liuga said that $2.7 million tala is allocated for the general salary increase.

“The last (wage) adjustment was done more than five years ago and a review is long overdue,�? said Faumuina

For this fiscal year, $200 million tala has been allocated for wages and benefits for public servants.

Faumuina says that the review which determined the general wage increase had considered several key factors. They include the cost of living, inflation as well as disposable incomes and purchasing power of individuals and families.

TEACHERS SALARY READJUSTMENT

For teachers, $318,000 tala will be available for their salary realignment.

“The teachers’ salaries were approved in 2010,�? elaborated the Finance Minister.

“But lack of funding had delayed the implementation.

“Now that funding is secured, the teacher’s wages will be readjusted at any given time once the Supplementary Budget is passed.�?

Another $230,000 tala is also will be available to fund vacancies for the Ministry of Education.

Of the 5,337 employed by government according to the Samoa Bureau of Statistics 2011 Census, 2181 work for the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.

SENIOR CITIZENS’ PENSION

At the moment, there are 9,500 pensioners receiving $130 tala per month.

The monthly pension does not include other services, compensated by SNPF, such as free medication, free dental and hospitalization fees and free travel on government ferries between Upolu and Savai’i.

The Pension Fund was started in 1992 at just $50 tala per month. The last adjustment was made three years ago.

Membership is only applicable to those who have reached 65-years-old.

According to Faumuina, elders play a critical role in community leadership, church and family stability, counseling and raising children and provide a social safety net for juvenile delinquents.

OTHER ALLOCATIONS

Part of the $5 million tala of the Supplementary Budget will be earmark to help the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet in its preparation to host the Small Island States Development Conference in 2014.

This is on top the $15 million tala already approved in the Main Budget Estimates for the current fiscal year.

The Supplementary Budget has been referred to the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee for its review and recommendations to be tabled when the lawmakers return in January after the end of the year holidays.

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