The skills crisis Fiji faces is very real, says Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) CEO Edward Bernard.
In his submission on the Work Care Bill (Bill Number 7 of 2025) and Accident Compensation Amendment Bill (Bill Number 8 of 2025) to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economic Affairs yesterday, Mr Bernard said employers needed their funds to improve the skills of their workforce, including training them on health and safety, and in turn reduce workplace accidents, improve productivity and contribute to economic development.
“The Work Care Bill will establish the Work Care Fund, which will be managed by the Permanent Secretary of Employment,” Mr Benard said.
He said the 40 percent of the 1 percent FNU levy that would be transferred to the Employment Ministry should the Work Care Bill be passed was the employees’ money, which accounted for $9million annually.
“The Work Care Bill will establish a board comprising more non-employer representatives that will make decisions on this fund, contributed to only by employers, not by the Government, not by workers.
“And if passed, the Work Care Bill will be twice unfair on the employers without 40 percent.
“It will be like kicking the employers when they are already down and allowing Dracula to guard the employer’s blood bank when the employers themselves need this urgently.”
