'Low wages driving youth overseas'

Low wages and a changing labour market are pushing many young Fijians to seek employment overseas, Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu says.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Seruiratu said technological change and artificial intelligence were reshaping global labour markets.

“The market is becoming unpredictable. Technological change and artificial intelligence is reshaping labour market.”

He said young people were increasingly finding it difficult to secure well-paying and stable employment.

“Globally, technology is rendering jobs obsolete, and young people are finding it tough to secure good-paying jobs.”

Mr Seruiratu said more employers were also shifting toward short-term contracts instead of permanent jobs.

He warned that low wages in Fiji were encouraging migration among young workers.

“With our low levels of wages it is not a wonder that our young men and women are seeking employment opportunities elsewhere, a trend that is expected to remain and will continue to deplete our already small workforce now and into the near future.”

He said Fiji must focus on creating better paying jobs.

“The answer is in creating jobs, good paying jobs.”