Pension recipients become income earners for family, Nadakuitavuki reveals

Evidence have shown that many pension recipients are the main or sole income earners in their households in Fiji, supporting not only their own wellbeing but also broader family resilience.

This was revealed by Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection, Eseta Nadakuitavuki while presenting at the 2025 Australasian Aid Conference (AAC) in Canberra, Australia.

Ms Nadakuitavuki was a panelist in the session titled “The Economics of Ageing and Why Old-Age Pensions Matter in the Asia-Pacific” which was held at the Australian National University.

She shared Fiji’s experience in supporting older persons through sustainable and inclusive social protection systems.

"Social protection programmes have significantly reduced poverty among older persons, with evidence showing that many pension recipients are the main or sole income earners in their households, supporting not only their own wellbeing but also broader family resilience," Ms Nadakuitavuki said.

Ms Nadakuitavuki added that Fiji’s Government Social Pension Scheme currently supports approximately 58,000 older persons aged 65 years and above, with an annual investment of around FJ$180 million.

With Fiji’s population aged 60 years and above projected to increase from 10 percent in 2023 to 15 percent by 2050, Ms. Nadakuitavuki highlighted the importance of a lifecycle-based, shock-responsive social protection system to address ageing, climate risks, and rising costs of living.

During the conference, Ms Nadakuitavuki also engaged in technical discussions with Australia’s Department of Social Services and Services Australia, alongside representatives from DFAT, the Australian High Commission in Fiji, and Partnerships for Social Protection.

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Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection, Ms Eseta Nadakuitavuki, has highlighted Fiji’s approach to supporting older persons through inclusive and sustainable social protection systems at the 2025 Australasian Aid Conference in Canberra, Australia.

Ms Nadakuitavuki participated as a panelist in a high-level session titled “The Economics of Ageing and Why Old-Age Pensions Matter in the Asia-Pacific,” held at the Australian National University, where she shared Fiji’s experience in responding to the challenges of an ageing population.

She outlined Government’s strong fiscal commitment to income security in old age, noting that "Fiji’s Social Pension Scheme currently supports about 58,000 older persons aged 65 years and above".

The scheme represents an annual investment of around FJD 180 million, or 1.4 per cent of Fiji’s Gross National Income.

Ms Nadakuitavuki said that "social protection programmes have played a key role in reducing poverty among older persons, with many pension recipients serving as the main or sole income earners within their households, contributing to overall family resilience".

She also highlighted that "there is a need for long-term planning, as Fiji’s population aged 60 years and above is projected to increase from 10 per cent in 2023 to 15 per cent by 2050".

This demographic shift underscores the importance of a lifecycle-based and shock-responsive social protection system that can address ageing, climate-related risks and the rising cost of living.

On the sidelines of the conference, Ms Nadakuitavuki engaged in technical discussions with Australia’s Department of Social Services and Services Australia, as well as representatives from DFAT, the Australian High Commission in Fiji and Partnerships for Social Protection.

The discussions focused on Australia’s social security framework, including disability and carer payments, and best practices in inclusive and client-centered service delivery.

She also paid a courtesy call on Fiji’s High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Mr Ajay Bhai Amrit, ahead of her official conference engagements.