Minimum wage review consultation begins

Consultations on the Review of the National Minimum Wage and the Wage Rate 2019 has begun.

Minister for Employment Parveen Kumar says the review was endorsed by Cabinet a few weeks ago.

Kumar says a definite Minimum Wage Rate will be decided after the consultations.

The consultation started in Labasa today, headed by an independent consultant Professor Partha Gangophyay from Australia.

Kumar says this time around, they are going to all the towns and cities to get the views of all Fijians.

He clarified the consultation is not a political gimmick.

“Most of the times, we have seen, observed and heard that this becomes a political issue. This time around we are not going to rush, we will make sure carrying out this exercise going to the people in all towns and cities, getting their views and not only that, to hear the views of the stakeholders, that is in terms of employers.”

Over 100 individuals and business operators in Labasa attended the consultation today.