THE 35,200 Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) members who have been affected by unpaid contributions by their employers have been assured the Fund will do all in its power to recover those monies owed to them.
The Fund has also assured that as part of the contribution debt amnesty period, employers will be required to pay the lost interest for the members to be eligible for the penalty waiver.
FNPF general manager Member Services Alipate Waqairawai said they were obligated to recover “every single cent” owed to affected members, even if it meant exercising its various powers enshrined in the FNPF Act.
“Using those powers is very expensive, we don’t want to use that. We want to resolve it in a very positive manner and in a very friendly manner rather than resorting to all those powers that are contained in our Act,” Mr Waqairawai said.
He said one of the conditions of the penalty waiver was for defaulting employers to pay the loss of interest.
“If you don’t pay the loss of interest, you don’t qualify or waiver of penalties. You pay the interest that members have lost and then we’ll waiver your penalties.”
It has also been confirmed that the loss of interest would go with the waiver employers are required to pay.
“We are doing all we can to do our best to collect every single cent, but we are also reaching out to our employers and businesses out there to please come forward.”
“We are pleading with all employers and businesses out there, please use this time between now and October 31 to come so we can resolve any issues you have with the FNPF.”
As for the 1292 inactive employers owing $5.99m, he said the law would take its course to recover those legacy debts.
The Fund’s total outstanding legacy contribution debt is $10.8m; of which $4.8m (44.5 per cent) are owed by active employers.
The Fund has so far recovered $2.8m since last year, and $913,000 collected from January to May this year. The Fund has the power to enforce departure prohibition orders and prosecution against defaulting employers in the recovery process.
