Chaudhry Calls for Minimum Wage Review Report

The Fiji Labour Party (FLP) has questioned Government on the report of the review committee on Minimum Wage.

Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry said Government must make the report public.

In April, the Ministry of Employment engaged four local academics for seven weeks to carry out the independent review. The team was headed by Professor Anand Chand of Fiji National University. The others were Dr Janesh Sami (lecturer of Economics, USP), Dr Jone Lako (USP) and Dr Maureen Fatiaki Karan (USP).

In his National Budget Address, Finance Minister Biman Prasad said the $5 minimum wage was determined “following the review of the independent experts and consultations with other stakeholders…” but did not disclose the findings and recommendations of the report.

“In the public interest as well as that of transparency and accountability the full report of the review panel must be made available,” Mr Chaudhry said.

“Given the controversy surrounding the new $4.50 minimum rate effective August 1, it is in the public interest to know how the figure was arrived at, what factors were taken into consideration and what sort of research was undertaken.

He said the Minister for Labour, Agni Deo should make the report public and it was paid for by the taxpayers and should be a public document.

“The minister should also disclose how much the consultants were paid for their seven weeks engagement. The disclosures are necessary in the interests of accountability and transparent.”

Source: Fiji Labour Party