‘Budget not vote buying’
“In two and a half years, less than two and a half years, we took the minimum wage to $5.”
Friday 27 June 2025 | 13:42
Minister for Finance Biman Prasad rubbished claims that the 2025-2026 National Budget is aimed at pleasing the public in the lead up to next year’s General Election.
The Government announced a three per cent pay increase for civil servants, which drew mixed reactions from members of the public, many of whom hoped the Government would also increase the minimum wage rate.
“Well, Fiji Sun was one newspaper, for 10 years, opposed any increase in minimum wage,” Mr Prasad said when questioned on the increase by this newspaper during the post-Budget press conference.
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“When we came into Government, minimum wage went up to$4 on January 1. Last, August 1, it went to $4.50 and on April 1 this year, it went to $5.
“In two and a half years, less than two and a half years, we took the minimum wage to $5.”
He said people were happy because the sectoral wages also went up, adding the Government started the minimum wage.
Mr Prasad said the past two budgets reflected Government’s commitment to elevating lives of Fijians and not a vote buying scheme.
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