As the year winds down and many take a well-earned pause, Fiji’s business community is preparing for one of its busiest periods – the Christmas rush, Boxing Day sales, and the planning that comes with a new year.
These moments are a timely reminder that businesses, large and small, are the engines that keep our economy moving.
As consumers make their purchasing decisions in the weeks ahead, supporting locally made and locally owned businesses remains one of the simplest ways to strengthen Fiji’s economy. For the Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF), there is still much work to be done. However, as the year closes, the Federation’s team will also take a brief pause before returning in the new year ready to build on the progress made throughout 2025.
Advocacy, dialogue, and delivery
As the most representative voice of the private sector in Fiji, FCEF’s work this year focused on advocacy, consultation, training, and creating platforms for dialogue between employers, government, and key stakeholders. Among the Federation’s most significant contributions in 2025 was our role in the Employment Relations Bill process.
FCEF was instrumental in advocating for the lifting of the non-disclosure agreement earlier in the year, enabling meaningful consultation with business owners across the country. The Federation also called for the Bill to be referred back to the Employment Relations Advisory Board.
While this has not yet occurred, the Standing Committee’s request for additional time reflects a recognition that the Bill, in its current form, requires further consideration – an outcome that underscores the importance of evidence-based policy development. FCEF also continued to advocate for fair and balanced outcomes through the Wages Council, particularly in relation to meal allowance proposals, ensuring employer perspectives were clearly articulated.
Throughout the year, the Federation maintained ongoing dialogue with government ministries on issues consistently raised by members, including skills and labour shortages, immigration processes, licensing challenges, and broader regulatory concerns affecting businesses across sectors.
Building capability and evidence
Expansion of partnerships within the Fiji Entrepreneurs Engine (FEE) programme – originally a joint initiative between the Market Development Facility (MDF) and the Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) – the success of the programme has attracted a broader and more diverse range of partners, enabling FEE to evolve into a platform that supports entrepreneurs across the entire business lifecycle — from an incubator for students turning ideas into viable businesses, to an accelerator for entrepreneurs ready to scale, and, soon, a new pathway for retirees seeking to transition into entrepreneurship.
A major milestone was the development of Fiji’s first nationally verified list of labour and skills gaps, produced through a comprehensive skills and labour demand survey. This work – delivered in partnership with the Higher Education Commission of Fiji, the Fiji Hotel & Tourism Association, the Suva Retailers Association, the Ministry of Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics, the International Labour Organization, the International Organization for Migration, and with the support of the Fiji Bureau of Statistics – will provide critical evidence-based data to inform policy, education planning, and workforce development.
The year also marked a period of renewal, with new leadership at both Board and Secretariat levels strengthening the Federation’s capacity to meet growing expectations and an expanding workload.
And deliberate expansions in partnerships with municipal and business bodies such as the Nadi Chamber of Commerce to amplify our collective voices and ensure that issues affecting businesses are effectively elevated into national dialogue.
In addition, FCEF successfully delivered TOPEX 2025, reinforcing its role as a convener of national dialogue.
The forum brought together 437 participants from across all major business sectors, with 79 per cent of attendees representing upper management and decision-making roles, with 36 per cent female representation and 45 per cent first-time attendees. (Refer to pigeonhole data)
The year also marked a milestone for the federation, with 65 years of service to Fiji’s private sector – a legacy built on long-standing trust, credibility, and sustained impact.
Looking ahead to 2026
The year ahead is already shaping up to be equally demanding.
In 2026, FCEF will continue its engagement on the Employment Relations Act through the Employment Relations Advisory Board, ensuring employer perspectives are clearly represented in tripartite discussions. The Minimum Wage, Occupational Health and Safety Bill and the Mining Bill are also under review, with FCEF’s respective councils preparing to provide technical input and recommendations.
The federation has scheduled its State of the Economy breakfasts ahead of and following the national budget, alongside a full calendar of training programs and expanded networking opportunities for members.
A collective impact
While FCEF’s work is driven by the voices of its members, the outcomes extend far beyond membership. The policies, reforms, and advocacy efforts undertaken affect businesses across Fiji — whether they are formally affiliated with the federation or not. As a small team with a national mandate, FCEF remains committed to representing employer interests responsibly, constructively, and with a focus on long-term economic resilience.
For businesses interested in becoming part of this collective voice, membership information is available via https://www.fcef.com.fj/become-a-member/ or email support@fcef.com.fj for support.
As the year draws to a close, the federation thanks Fiji’s business community for its resilience, engagement, and contribution, and looks ahead to continuing the work of protecting, promoting, and preserving a strong private sector in the year to come.
FCEF board members and secretariat with chief guest Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel at TOPEX 2025. Picture: SUPPLIED
