Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal yesterday defended his call for salary increases for MPs and ministers, even as some segments of society have objected to the suggestion. Moonilal, who is supported by Opposition MPs and senators in his call, told reporters yesterday MPs and ministers were hardworking and their efforts often went unnoticed or unseen by the public.
“You cannot judge a member of Parliament or a minister of government by watching television because that is not all that we do. There is other work that we do as well,” Moonilal said after a tour of upgraded works at the Lalbeharry/Monkey Town Recreation Ground, Barrackpore. He said when he made the comment about salaries it was not only for ministers but other MPs as well.
Noting the workload, he said MPs had to attend committee meetings from 9 am and work late into the night. Additionally, he said, preparing for debates was a lot of work for parliamentarians. Moonilal said all MPs, including Opposition MPs, have raised several matters with Government over adequate compensation.
The minister said while he was calling for the increase, which was recommended by the Salaries Reviews Commission (SRC), Government’s position had “always been and will always be” one that did not support extravagance. “The policy is that we cannot support any salary increase for members of Parliament or ministers that are outside of any salary increase granted for ordinary citizens and public officers and civil servants,” Moonilal added.
If the public service were to get a salary increase, then that exact amount “and not a cent more” should be granted to MPs and ministers, he said. “We will not support any extravagant increase in compensation for ministers or MPs,” he added. Moonilal said if the increase given to public officers ranged between five and nine per cent, “we will have to look at it.”
He stressed that any increase was determined by the SRC and added that what should be determined in considering increases was whether being an MP should be a full-time or part-time activity. Being an MP, he said, was traditionally seen as a part-time job. “Members are allowed to practise their own profession. Many are doctors and lawyers, engineers... and so on. “So if you change that and you make them a full-time Member of Parliament, it has implications as well for compensation,” Moonilal said.