Public Rental Board (PRB) general manager Timoci Naleba says his team is currently working on a solution that will address the issue of people not being able to access affordable housing and good sanitation, especially for the 25,378 people are living as squatters in informal settlements.
He said out of this population about 30.4 per cent are iTaukei, 13.8 per cent Indo-Fijians, 2.8 per cent Chinese and 13.3 per cent of other ethnic groups.
He added the housing gap stands at around 20,000 to 28,000 homes.
To help tackle this issue, a concept note has been written with a proposed levy which will be presented to Housing Minister Maciu Nalumisa this week.
The proposed levy includes all employed Fijians is to deduct 0.015 per cent from their salary to go towards an affordable housing fund, and the employer to deduct an equal amount to bring the total to 0.03 per cent.
“A concept note should go on this week and as soon as it’s ready, it will be taken to the minister before we write up a project paper,” Mr Naleba said.
“After the project paper, we’ll do a Cabinet paper for Cabinet’s decision.
“Because once we submit it to Cabinet, all information should be there, how the fund will work, how people will pay and all that.
“So during the production of the concept paper, there will a lot of consultation with the public so that they know where the levy will go, how it will be used and the benefits.
“Just to communicate it well so that no one gets the wrong message and saying that we are taxing.
“Some people might say, ‘we already have a house, why should we put money there?’
“So those kinds of issues we need to clear during the public consultation. If we message it well, I’m sure everybody will agree.
“We can all, as a nation, come together and put 3 cents aside per every dollar earned.”
