THERE is a need for Government to waive market stall fees in local municipal markets during this COVID-19 period, says Suva Market Vendors Association vice-president Luisa Fisher.
She said assessing individual vendors in the market was the only way to gauge those who needed assistance paying market stall fees.
Ms Fisher said it was vital to carry out market assessment as there were vendors who earned so much revenue from the market while there were some who could only earn enough to support their families.
“The cost of a stall is $3.25 for those who sit inside the market building and $2.75 for those who sit outside,” she said.
“Vendors are supposed to pay the said amount daily and right now, that is a lot of money. There is a need for the Government to thoroughly look into this issue because this is a concern for the majority of market vendors around the country.”
She said it would be unfair to waive the fees of bigger vendors who earned so much from the market compared to smaller vendors who struggled to earn a living from their sales.
The association held its first meeting yesterday.
