WOMEN from rural areas who sell handmade products often have to wait days or even weeks before receiving payment.
Social Protection Minister Sashi Kiran says this system needs to change.
Ms Kiran said many women from villages travelled long distances to sell their products but faced delays in receiving their earnings.
“Even here in Viti Levu, women from places such as Naitasiri come to sell their products in the market, but sometimes it takes two or three days before they actually receive their money,” she said.
In some cases when products are left with organisations or outlets, she said, artisans only received payment once the product was sold.
“In this day and age, that should not be the case.”
To address the issue, the ministry is exploring a new system that will allow women to be paid immediately when their products are accepted for sale.
The system will also introduce stronger standards, including proper packaging, bar-coding and stock management.
She said the goal was to ensure women artisans across Fiji earned a stable income from their work.
