There needs to be private sector involvement in the social economic sector.
This was the call of Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while speaking at the 26th Fiji Australia Business Council and Australia Fiji Business Council Joint Forum in Sigatoka yesterday.
“Today in Fiji, we have individuals who normally go to public health systems can now go to private general practitioners and get consultations done, which means that there is less pressure on the public health centre and there is lesser queues,” he said.
“It’s picked up quite significantly and now we have about 42 general practitioners who are participating in this.
“The point that I wish to make is that I think it’s critically important for the corporate sector to have a huge stake in this space.”
He said apart from the health sector, the corporate sector could also make an investment in preventing domestic violence.
“If the bulk of the people in this resort are women who make your beds, wait on you and if they are being bashed up the night before and they do come to work, then their level of productivity will be affected.
“There will be a high rate of absenteeism because they are being bashed up the night before. Generally, women get bashed up more in a domestic violence scenario.
“So it is critically important that you cannot have a ‘hands-off’ approach.”
He said from a commercial perspective, it was within the interest of each corporate body to be involved in preventing such social issues.
“You must be aware of this. You must be able to enforce this and have those workplace policies in place and contribute.
“We see a lack of contribution from the private sector in many of these social aspects of the economy.”
