Two major unions are hopeful that provisions will be made in the 2009 National Budget to fully restore the civil servants 2 percent pay cut and to assist the poor by reducing duties on some basic food items.
Fiji Nursing Association president Sala Matiyavi said they want the pay cut to be fully restored and it should also be backdated.
She said they have also requested the Health Ministry to fill some new posts which have been empty for the last six years.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions General Secretary Attar Singh said they want the pay cut to be fully restored.
He said the Interim Government should also look into the plight of low income earners before announcing the budget.
Public Service Commission permanent secretary Taina Tagicakibau said they will comment this afternoon.
