The Sugar Cane Growers Council (SCGC) has begun discussions with the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) on establishing a dedicated savings scheme for sugarcane growers, with contributions to be deducted directly from growers’ cane proceeds.
While SCGC currently promotes voluntary FNPF membership, the Council believes the arrangement could be strengthened into a more structured — and potentially compulsory — savings platform to improve long-term financial security and social protection for growers.
More than 10,000 active growers could benefit, supported by the industry’s structured cane payment cycle.
SCGC says the proposal would leverage existing administrative systems and introduce a uniform, sustainable savings mechanism that encourages growers and their families to plan for the future.
The Council will now undertake consultations with growers across districts to gather feedback and suggestions, and has indicated that amendments to the Master Award may be considered to ensure the scheme is practical, fair, and aligned with growers’ interests.
As the statutory representative of cane growers, SCGC says it remains committed to advocating for the necessary legislative backing and engaging key industry stakeholders throughout the process.
Consultations will continue, with updates to be provided to growers as discussions progress.
