Sixty-nine employees of Government commercial company Food Processors Fiji Limited (FPFL) are now benefitting from a salary increment, and improved employment terms and conditions thanks to recently agreed bargaining agreements between the company and the National Union of Factory and Commercial Workers (NUF&CW).
The Masters Agreement was signed between the two parties on Wednesday at the company’s headoffice in Vatuwaqa, Suva.
Among agreed clauses in the agreement is the 3 per cent increment for wages staff, $6 increment for workers meal allowance, $0.50 cents increase in the WET allowance and 7 per cent increase in monetary allowances including offensive work allowance and height allowance.
According to the company, these increments came into effect on January 1 this year where they will pay wages above the national minimum wage rate, positioning the company as a preferred employer.
Union general secretary Sosiceni Bainivuwai said through their annual negotiations, the company engaged with the union to introduce improvements to employment terms and conditions as it progressed.
He said the decision to grant the increment was made to recognise the dedication, hard work, and loyalty of existing employees who had consistently supported the company’s operations over many years.
“Whatever we reflected in the agreement was what we had agreed to during an acquisition, basically pay rise and the working condition that we have agreed to and will need to improve,” Mr Bainivuwai said.
FPFL deputy chairperson Nacanieli Waka said they acknowledged their workforce was central to their success and sustainability, and the wage increment reflected the company’s appreciation for employees who continued to demonstrate commitment and reliability in their roles.
He said the normal processes were meeting with the workers where they tabled the claims based on their experiences and their cost of living, which was then tabled to the company’s management for negotiation and later resulted in the Master Agreement signed this week.
“This is some of the things that we’ve been discussing a lot. What we do, especially the welfare of our workers, which I believe is very important. And today’s signing, even though it’s only a one-year agreement, but we’ll be able to work together,” Mr Waka said.
FPFL is a State-owned enterprise under the Ministry of Public Enterprise and plays a critical role in Fiji’s agri-processing and food manufacturing sector, contributing to the country’s export sector, employment generation, and value addition to local agricultural produce. In 2025, FPFL recorded a total production tonnage of 881,729.74 kilograms of produce for local and export markets.
Food Processors Fiji Limited deputy chair Nacanieli Waka (far left), company director Harmindar Singh (third from left), NU&CFW general secretary Sosiceni Bainivuwai (centre) with company staff and union members after the signing of the Master Agreement in Vautwaqa on Wednesday. Picture: KARISHMA KUMARI
