Budget for the people

Families living in informal settlements have called for Government assistance to help with rising costs of living and basic services as the 2025-2026 National Budget approaches.

At the Lagilagi informal settlement in Raiwaqa, residents shared their struggles with expensive food prices, inadequate infrastructure, and limited income opportunities.

She called for increased social welfare allowances and assistance with basic services like electricity and water connections.

“Prices of food can be too expensive. Supermarket prices and market prices as well.

“Those of us without jobs, it can be challenging,” Mrs Balaira said.

She called for increased social welfare allowances and assistance with basic services like electricity and water connections.

“We have no electricity – we only use solar, we share water with neighbours as there is no connection,” she said.

Ms Balaira said residents faced challenges with sanitation and basic living conditions in the informal settlements.

Laiseana Balaira and her daughter Fulora.

Ms Balaira, who recently returned from hospital due to diabetes complications, said her husband received social welfare payments but the amount, $115, was insufficient for their needs.

Her daughter Fulora Balaira, 22, echoed similar concerns about the high cost of living affecting young families.

“Food prices should go down. My husband is the sole bread winner.

“He earns every two weeks $6.05 per hour rate and it is not enough for my children,” she said.

The young mother of three said her family spent more than $400 on groceries every fortnight, leaving little for savings.

She called for the minimum wage to increase from the current $5 to $7 per hour.

“The current food prices are too high. Every two weeks, I spent more than $400 all of my husband’s full pay, not enough left for savings,” Ms Fulora said.

Both women requested easier access to Government assistance programmes and improved public transport affordability.

They also called for government help to improve informal settlements to raise living standards for low-income families.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Biman Prasad said earlier that the Government was considering calls for increased social welfare allowances as part of budget preparations.

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