Although women make up 49.3 per cent of Fiji’s population, they continue to be under-represented in the labour force, says Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran.
She told Parliament on Thursday many women remained concentrated in the informal sector — a space characterised by low wages, job insecurity, and limited or no social protection.
“We also know that women’s participation in agriculture and climate-resilient livelihoods is restricted by limited access to land, fisheries, and other productive resources,” Ms Kiran said.
“Rural women, in particular, face disproportionate barriers. For example, they must travel up to five times further than urban residents simply to reach basic financial services.”
She said women continued to be under-represented in leadership and decision-making roles, and women-led businesses were estimated to be 2.5 times more likely to have their loan applications rejected.
“These disparities weaken our economy and undermine inclusive growth.
“These realities underscore why strengthening gender mainstreaming within these 14 ministries and agencies is not only justified, but essential.
“It enables us to address entrenched inequalities, remove systemic barriers, and ensure that development outcomes reach every Fijian.”
She assured the House that they would continue to support the ministries to maintain consistency and coherence in gender mainstreaming efforts across the whole of Government.
“Consultations with participating ministries and agencies have been extensive and reflect the growing recognition across government that gender equality is a critical development priority and requires the active engagement of all ministries and agencies.”
Ms Kiran said their Institutional Capacity Development Initiative was about building a society where all Fijians — regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, or social status — can fully participate in, contribute to, and benefit from national development.
“By strengthening the capacity of government ministries and agencies, providing technical support, and fostering a culture of accountability and inclusivity, we are laying the foundations for a Fiji that is not only fairer but also stronger, more resilient, and more prosperous.”
