The Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation chief executive, Nesbitt Hazelman, says the government has taken a cautious approach on the national minimum wage rate.

The wage rate has been increased from $2.32 to $2.68.

“We must be mindful that the minimum wage is only for the unskilled. With the increased budget in the education it will entice those in the unskilled area to be educated – gain a trade and move into the formal sector – so I hope this all falls in train when moving people out of the informal to the formal sector. So the minimum wage of $2.68 I think we had expected that.”

Hazelman says we need to create an economy that provides employment to every Fijian.