It is time for the Government to reconsider its stance on minimum wage and all wages stipulated in the Wages Council Orders.
Citing the latest fuel price increase that came into effect on April, Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) national secretary Felix Anthony said that would have drastic impact on workers, more particularly the majority that earned minimum wage, which he added was “well below the poverty line”.
“Cost of everyday essentials are likely to be affected, and this would put our poorest into a very precarious situation, and may have serious social implications,” Mr Anthony said in a statement.
“Already we see workers struggling to put decent food on the table for their families.
Mr Anthony said it was the Government reconsidered its stand because the current minimum wage of $5 “is grossly insufficient and condemns workers to perpetual poverty”.
“As always, the case by businesses is endorsed without consultation or even justification where as the plight of workers takes decades,” he said.
Mr Anthony made the comment as they challenged the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (FCCC) April 1 fuel price determination.
In response, the Government stated it acknowledged the pressure on families, adding while the Government continued to advance worker protections, noted that resistance to wage increases had come from some employers.
It stated the advocacy by the union body for improved wages and conditions must be directed where such resistance existed.
It added the Government had increased the minimum wage within two years of taking office.
“This is not a situation of choosing between fuel companies and workers. It is about managing a global crisis responsibly, ensuring that Fiji maintains fuel supply, protects economic stability, and supports its people during a period of international uncertainty,” the Government stated in a statement published on its official social media Facebook page.
