Praneeta Prakash 
[Photo: FILE]
National Senior Citizens Committee chair, Vineel Nand has proposed a tax on earnings sent overseas by foreign workers, saying Fiji should explore ways to retain more money in the local economy.
Speaking during consultations on the Constitution Amendment Bill 32, Nand suggested a tax of at least 10 percent on such transfers.
He acknowledged that income tax already applies but called for consideration of an additional tax when earnings are sent abroad.
Nand claimed Fiji has 23,000 foreign workers, including 5,000 without legal status, and that they send between $400 million and $450 million overseas annually.
“I know there’s a tax bracket for income but any money earned in Fiji should be taxed if it is going out of the country, I know there is a law in the Reserve Bank, you cannot send over two thousand dollars but there is some loopholes in that, it can be really looked into and some restructure on that can be done because we need to protect our Fijians and give them jobs in Fiji”
Nand rejected social media claims that Fijians are lazy or unwilling to work, saying such statements were unsupported by research or an assessment.
He called for greater support for local employment and said a lack of suitable housing could prevent Fijians from accessing job opportunities.
Nand also urged the committee to carefully consider his organization’s recommendations and incorporate them where appropriate.
