FijiFirst general secretary, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum explained to party supporters in Rakiraki that the National Minimum Wage is only for ‘unskilled people’.

There has been a lot of debate on the minimum wage rate with political parties promising to implement their own figures if elected.

The current minimum wage for unskilled workers is $2.68 an hour.

Sayed-Khaiyum explained there are different rates for skilled workers.

“Some people’s minimum wage is $5 an hour and some people’s minimum wage is $6 an hour – a boiler maker, a forklift driver – they have certification. If you are a pastry chef – you have to go to the technical college, study for two years then you get a certificate – then you get $5 or $6 an hour.”

Meanwhile, Sayed-Khaiyum says that increasing the minimum of unskilled workers could result in skilled or experienced workers wanting an increase.

“So he is $5 and she is working at $6 – she’s been to the technical college for two years – he did not go anywhere. What do you think she will say? She will say if this unskilled person is getting $5 – I spent two years I should be getting $12 – because his wage has been doubled, mine should be doubled too. What do you think it will create in Fiji? It will create what we call hyperinflation.”

So far in the race the parties offering a minimum wage are, Unity and SODELPA at four-dollars per hour, the NFP says five dollars, and the Hope $10.