Greenland MPs support higher wages

SIKU CIRCUMPOLAR NEWS SERVICE

Members of Greenland’s workforce have to show responsibility and moderation over next four years – that was the message delivered by Greenland’s minister for economic affairs, Augusta Salling, when she presented a political-economic report to her fellow MLAs.

But last week, only one week after the report was tabled, a proposal to increase salaries for MPs and executive members received its first reading in the legislative assembly. If passed, it would give MPs a 40 per cent salary increase and executive members a 21 per cent increase.

The three largest political parties in Greenland, Siumut, Atassut and Inuit Ataqatigiit, supported the proposal.

That represents an 180-degree about-face for Inuit Ataqatigiit.

In 2001, the left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit party railed against wage hikes, causing a coalition between the Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit parties to break down toward the end of the year.

The proposal will receive its second reading during the fall of 2003.