AROUND 258,000 Fijians, or 29.9 per cent of the population, are living in poverty.
This was highlighted by Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation CEO Edward Bernard at the Tripartite Workshop organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Suva yesterday.
Mr Bernard said most of these Fijians, about 41 per cent, living in poverty were in rural areas.
“And it is in rural areas where our indigenous population mostly reside,” Mr Bernard said.
Quoting the latest employment and unemployment survey report released by the Bureau of Statistics, he said 36 per cent of the indigenous population lived under the poverty rate.
“So, the question arises, have we really progressed as the net benefit of development is actually being felt in the rural indigenous population.”
Mr Bernard also pointed out that the national unemployment rate stands at 5.4 per cent. “Our youth unemployment rate is 18 per cent. Our youth NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rate is 26 per cent.
“The majority in these categories comprise the indigenous population.
“I remember 15 years ago when I started with the ILO, these numbers were the same 15 years ago.
“So, I think we need to really unpack and ask ourselves, has the net benefit of development in our economy been passed down to our indigenous population?”
He urged the ILO and the Government to work with the institutions to help indigenous communities progress economically and access opportunities in the labour market.