New Zealand's Jacinda Arden and her Administration to take Pay cuts

COLOMBO (News 1st): New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern on Wednesday (15th April), announced that all Ministers, Public Service Chief Executives of her administration will take a 20% pay cut in acknowledgment of the impact COVID-19 has had on the country's economy. "Today I can confirm that myself, government ministers and public service chief executives will take a 20% pay cut for the next six months; as we acknowledge New Zealanders who are reliant on wage subsidies, taking pay cuts and losing their jobs as a result of COVID-19 global pandemic. We feel acutely the struggle that many New Zealanders are facing and so do the people that I work with on a daily basis. While it in its self won't shift the government's overall fiscal position, it is about leadership," told Arden, addressing a press briefing held on Wednesday. Based on foreign media reports, Arden has said the pay cut also reflected what was happening in the private sector. While appreciating the support of all New Zealanders including those who are staying home to save lives, the Premier said the time has come to forget the gap between different positions and work collectively on a common goal. She said, "If there were ever a time to close the gap between groups of people across New Zealand in different positions, it is now." Foreign media reported that Ardern also condemned the move by landlords to increase rents during the lock-down, saying it was "utterly unfathomable". Arden had said, "Be a good citizen, JUST be a good human being."   Source: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12324872&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nzh_fb