Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry claims Government was making life more difficult for the poor and low income families.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Chaudhry said the Value Added Tax (VAT) was increased to 15 per cent, increasing the prices of goods and services by 6 per cent.
“Then the promised increase in minimum wage was shelved,” he said.
“Pay increases for teachers and other civil servants were deferred while FNPF pensioners plight was forgotten, and so goes on the list of unkept promises.
“From January 1 this year, poor parents will be paying even more for their children to enjoy sweet biscuits, ice cream, imported fruit juices, chocolates, peanuts and other snacks as excise tax and customs duty go up for both domestic and imported products.
“Will school bus fares be the next target on the pretext of removing abuse?”
Mr Chaudhry said Labour had repeatedly warned that the policies of the Coalition Government were widening the gulf between the rich and the poor in Fiji.
“While the poor and their children are being penalised through higher taxes and the removal of social protection, the ministers themselves are lining up their pockets and the well-off were getting huge tax reliefs and concessions.”
