Government’s salary committee in for a pay rise

The committee which determines ministers’ salaries may now also be asked to decide how much MPs should earn.

Since 2003, the committee has been tasked with making recommendations on the salaries and pensions of government ministers.

But now Parliament is considering extending the committee’s remit to also include recommendations on MPs’ salaries and pensions.

More work, higher fees

The Prime Minister’s office has informed Parliament that the extended remit entitles the three committee members to a higher fee.

There has not been much disagreement on that point; however, it is not clear who should finance this pay rise.

According to the Prime Minister’s office, the salary committee itself is best suited to decide on this matter.

A simpler solution

Páll á Reynatúgvu, Chairman of the løgting, who submitted the proposal to expand the remit of the salary committee, says this would be a more sensible solution than having two separate committees, one for ministers’ salaries and one for MPs’ salaries.

Reynatúgvu’s proposal did not mention a pay rise for the committee members; this was a suggested addition from the Prime Minister’s office.

According to regulations from 2004, the salary committee chair receives DKK 40,000 per year, while the two other committee members receive DKK 30,000 per year.

Translated by prosa.fo