CONSULTANTS hired by the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations hope to review 6000 questionnaire responses before determining the new national minimum wage.
Review team member and University of the South Pacific academic Dr Maureen Fatiaki told a public consultation in Rakiraki yesterday they were pressed for time and needed Fijians to air their views.
She said the review committee was independent and would seek views from workers and trade unions before locking the new wage rate.
“We are collecting data regarding your current rate that you are being paid right now and what do you wish to get,” she said.
“What are your expenses like? Yes, there are some personal questions, but you can give us a rough estimate. It allows us to then factor in and properly calculate what is the rate that should be.
“We are looking at a sample size of 6000. It’s a very small span of time that we have been given, that’s one month. We’re going to do the initial analysis in two weeks time with whatever we have selected.”
Dr Fatiaki said while recommending the new rate, the review team would also suggest some policy changes for government.
The new national minimum wage rate will be announced in the 2024-2025 budget that will be delivered in June.
