FCEF demands meal allowance increase

The Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) is pressing the government to enact a long-delayed increase in workers' meal allowances. The federation's CEO, Edward Bernard, highlighted that the agreed-upon hike, part of a tripartite agreement, has been postponed for over eight months.

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the delay has stretched beyond eight months.

Bernard emphasized that the delayed increase is crucial for workers to afford adequate meals, especially with escalating food prices. He noted the FCEF's shift from its initial stance, now supporting a phased implementation starting in 2025. The organization also advocates for standardizing meal allowances across all industries to ensure fairness for all workers.

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the increase would help workers afford decent meals while easing the pressure of rising food prices.

While employers are committed to enhancing worker well-being and productivity, Bernard cautioned that businesses face limitations in absorbing continuous cost hikes. He pointed to union demands for higher wages and the introduction of a living wage system as potential additional pressures on the business sector. The FCEF is now urging the Ministry of Employment to expedite the necessary legislative changes to implement the agreed meal allowance increase.

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it significantly shifted from its original position to support a phased increase over three years, beginning in 2025.