12 Jun 2017

Fiji's Trade Union spokesman welcomes NFP's proposed minimum wage increase

2:42 pm on 12 June 2017

The general secretary of Fiji's Trades Union Congress says a big lift in the minimum wage is needed.

The opposition National Federation Party proposed the minimum wage as a living wage, with workers getting at least $5.00 Fijian an hour, as opposed to the current $2.32.

Attar Singh

Opposition NFP general secretary Attar Singh Photo: RNZI / Sally Round

Attar Singh said it's time for the government to consider raising that number to help support struggling families.

"In a very very long time, someone has come up with a proposal that looks to be a reasonable wage proposal.," Mr Singh said.

"The poverty line in Fiji I think around 2014 was $185, $186 a week, so that $2.32 falls far below and now we have a recent review of the minimum wage, which proposes an increase to $2.68 an hour, that also falls far below."