Chamber Rallies with FCEF Against Proposed $8 Hourly Livingwage

The Nadi Chamber of Com­merce and Industry (NCC!) has backed the Fiji Com­merce and Employers Federation (FCEF) in strongly opposing the proposed national living wage rate of $8 an hour.

The proposal was raised by the Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) during its 51st Biennial Delegates Conference in Nadi over the weekend.

NCCI President Lawrence Kumar said the chamber shared the con­cerns and positions outlined by FCEF, reflecting the economic re­alities faced by businesses across Fiji, including those in Nadi.

"Demanding a new wage system in an economic climate where busi­nesses and even the Government are struggling to survive and con­tinue employing workers is not act­ing in good faith," Mr Kumar said.

"We fully support the measured and evidence-based position put forward by FCEF and urge all stakeholders to approach this mat­ter with Fiji's economic well-being at heart."

Mr Kumar said Fiji's minimum wage had increased from $2.32 to $5 an hour since 2015.

He said the current minimum wage was already more than 60 per cent higher than Papua New Guin­ea's, despite Papua New Guinea having a gross domestic product four times larger than Fiji's.

"Any further drastic increase must be carefully weighed against Fiji's unique economic challeng­es," he said.

The chamber also shared FCEF's concerns that the FTUC's call for an $8 living wage must be balanced against national issues, including low productivity, widening skills gaps, high youth unemployment, and rising freight and production

costs.

The World Bank has warned Fiji's economic growth could fall below three per cent unless the country strengthens reforms, improves productivity and rebuilds fiscal discipline.

Mr Kumar said the Internation­al Labour Organization and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognised that living wage policies must consider local condi­tions and enterprise sustainability.

"In many comparable jurisdic­tions, including New Zealand, a living wage is not compulsory," he said.

"NCCI urges that any wage re­view be structured, transparent and informed by economic reali­ties and genuine consultation, as called for by Prime Minister Siti­veni Rabuka.

"NCCI remains committed to advocating for a business environ­ment that supports sustainable growth, fair employment and the long-term prosperity of the Nadi region and Fiji as a whole. We call on all parties to engage in bal­anced, evidence-based dialogue for the benefit of all Fijians."

FCEF also backed comments made by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in response to the FTUC proposal, supporting calls for wage reviews to be transparent, evi­dence-based and grounded in eco­nomic conditions and cost-of-living considerations.

The federation said while it sup­ported decent work and fair wages that improved living standards, wage policies must also consider enterprise sustainability, produc­tivity and economic growth.

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