A number of unions were missing during the oral submissions with the Ministry of Economy as opinions and submissions were being gathered for the 2021-2022 National Budget.

Fiji Trades Unions Congress, the biggest trade union body, had sent an apology, however the union and its affiliates had made written submissions.

Only the Fiji Public Service Association and Fiji Bank and Finance Sector Union made oral submissions and met the Budget team from the Ministry of Economy led by Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on Wednesday.

Fiji Trade Union Congress general secretary Felix Anthony said they limited their submissions to workers’ issues due to the late invitation which was sent on June 25 and seen by him only on Monday June 28.

FTUC affiliated bodies said they had made written submissions to the Ministry of Economy.

Fiji Teachers Union general secretary, Agni Deo Singh, said they had submitted for:

• Zero pay cuts for civil servants as opposed to submissions by the accountant’s body.
• Allowances including rural, boarding, long service and acting allowances had remained unpaid for a number of years.

Transport Workers Union general secretary, Kamlesh Kumar, said they had also given written submissions through their parent body FTUC.

Fijian Teachers Association was not part of the discussions and is hoping to submit its submissions by the end of the week.

General secretary Paula Manumanutoga said the association would make submissions straight to the ministry and hope that it would be allowed to do so.

Attorney General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had last week indicated that the National Budget would address issues of unemployment benefits and revitalise the economy. The Ministry of Economy has been meeting with stakeholder representatives in the lead up to the Budget announcement on July 16.

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